Epistemic Features of Generality in Conclusions: The Case of Applied Linguistics and Power System Engineering

This comparative corpus-based study was launched to analyze the use of intensifiers and indefinite pronouns indicating generality in two disciplines of applied linguistics (AL) and power system engineering (PSE). Accordingly, four corpora were considered in this study: two corpora representing English articles written by L۱-English writers in applied linguistics (L۱-English AL corpus) and power system engineering (L۱-English PSE corpus), and two other corpora (L۱-Persian AL corpus and L۱-Persian PSE corpus) belonging to English articles written by L۱-Persian writers in the same two disciplines. The findings revealed that the indefinite pronouns were used more frequently than intensifiers in all corpora; on the other hand, the use of qualified-generalization markers in the two L۱-Persian corpora exceeded that in the L۱-English corpora. As for disciplinary differences, the AL conclusions contained more generalization and qualified-generalization stance markers, as compared to their PSE counterparts. The study concludes with some implications regarding the representation of authorial voice.

Keywords:

Epistemic stance , Generality , Stance markers , Qualified-generalization markers