Move Analysis and Hedge Use in the Research Paper Abstracts of Thai EFL English-majored Undergraduates
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
While much effort has been devoted to the analysis of moves and hedging devices in research articles and graduate-level dissertation abstracts, little work has been done on the research paper abstracts of Thai EFL English-majored undergraduates. This research aimed to analyze the move structure and use of hedges in each of the identified moves in 60 abstracts from Thai EFL undergraduate English-majored research papers. Pho’s (2008) analytical framework was employed for move identification, and Wang’s (2019) taxonomy was adopted for the analysis of hedges. The findings indicated the presence of three obligatory moves: Move 2 (Presenting the research), Move 3 (Describing the methodology), and Move 4 (Summarizing the findings). The dominant move sequence was Move 2 followed by Move 3 and then Move 4. In terms of hedges, it was found that hedging devices were employed in Move 2, Move 4, and Move 5. Modal verbs were the most frequently used hedging devices, followed by epistemic lexical verbs and epistemic adverbs, with epistemic adjectives appearing rarely. Notably, epistemic nouns were absent. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of how Thai EFL English-majored undergraduate students compose their research paper abstracts. Pedagogical implications for abstract writing are also discussed.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Amnuai, W. (2019). Analyses of rhetorical moves and linguistic realizations in accounting research article abstracts published in international and Thai-based journals. SAGE Open, 9(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018822384
Amnuai, W., Kotuta, P., & Duangprasertchai, M. (2020). Textual and linguistic characteristics of research article abstracts. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 23(1), 168-181. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.2020.230113
Anthony, L. (2022). AntConc (Version 4.2.0) [Computer Software]. Waseda University. https://www.laurenceanthony.net/software/AntConc
Aziz, A., Mahmood, M. A., Ahmad, S., & Akbar, N. (2021). A corpus-based study of genre specific discourse: M.A. TEFL thesis abstracts. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(Special Issue 2), 884-898.
Bhatia, V. K. (1993). Analysing genre: Language use in professional settings. Routledge.
Biber, D., Connor, U., & Upton, T. A. (2007). Discourse on the Move: Using corpus analysis to describe discourse structure. John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.28
Boginskaya, O. A. (2022). Functional categories of hedges: A diachronic study of Russian research article abstracts. Russian Journal of Linguistics, 26(3), 645-667. https://doi.org/10.22363/2687-0088-30017
Bunton, D. (2005). The structure of PhD conclusion chapters. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 4(3), 207-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2005.03.004
Demir, C. (2018). Hedging and academic writing: An analysis of lexical hedges. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 14(4), 74-92.
Dias, P., & Paré, A. (2000). Transitions: Writing in academic and workplace settings. Hampton Press.
Doğan-Uçar, A., & Akbas, E. (2022). A corpus-driven cross-disciplinary study of inclusive and exclusive we in research article abstracts. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 15(1), 180-204. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/LEARN/article/view/256720
Doró, K. (2014). Verb tenses and hedging in published and unpublished applied linguistics research paper abstracts. In J. Horváth & P. Medgyes (Eds.), Studies in honour of Marianne Nikolov (pp. 356-369). Lingua Franca Csoport Pécs.
Ekoç, A. (2010). Analyzing Turkish MA students’ use of lexical hedging strategies in theses abstracts. Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 13(1), 49-62.
Ekoç, A. (2020). Lexical hedging and boosting strategies in the abstracts written by undergraduate ELT students. In N. Kenny & L. Escobar (Eds.), The changing face of ESP in today’s classroom and workplace (pp. 195-214). Vernon Press.
Fauzan, U., Lubis, A. H., & Kurniawan, E. (2020). Rhetorical moves and linguistic complexity of research article abstracts in international applied linguistics journals. Asian ESP Journal, 16(52), 204-232.
Getkham, K. (2011). Hedging devices in applied linguistics research articles. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Language and Communication, 2011, 141-154. https://iclc.nida.ac.th/main/index.php/proceedings
Gillaerts, P., & Van de Velde, F. (2010). Interactional metadiscourse in research article abstracts. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 9(2), 128-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2010.02.004
Hayisama, F., Shah, M. I. A., & Adnan, W. N. A. W. (2019). Rhetorical style across cultures: An analysis of metadiscourse markers in academic writing of Thai and Malaysian students. LSP International Journal, 6(1), 19-37. https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v6n1.76
Henry, A., & Roseberry, R. L. (1998). An evaluation of a genre‐based approach to the teaching of EAP/ESP writing. TESOL Quarterly, 32(1), 147-156. https://doi.org/10.2307/3587913
Hu, G., & Cao, F. (2011). Hedging and boosting in abstracts of applied linguistics articles: A comparative study of English- and Chinese-medium journals. Journal of Pragmatics, 43(11), 2795-2809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2011.04.007
Hyland, K. (1996). Writing without conviction? Hedging in science research articles. Applied Linguistics, 17(4), 433-454. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/17.4.433
Hyland, K. (1998a). Boosting, hedging and the negotiation of academic knowledge. Text & Talk, 18(3), 349-382. https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.1998.18.3.349
Hyland, K. (1998b). Hedging in scientific research articles. John Benjamins.
Hyland, K. (2000). Disciplinary discourses: Social interactions in academic writing. Longman.
Hyland, K. (2004). Genre and second language writing. University of Michigan Press.
Hyland, K. (2005). Metadiscourse: Exploring interaction in writing. Bloomsbury.
Hyland, K. (2017). Metadiscourse: What is it and where is it going? Journal of Pragmatics, 113, 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2017.03.007
Hyland, K. (2023). English for academic purposes and discourse analysis. In M. Handford & J. M. Gee (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of discourse analysis (2nd ed., pp. 509-521). Routledge.
Hyland, K., & Tse, P. (2004). “I would like to thank my supervisor”. Acknowledgements in graduate dissertations. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 14(2), 259-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-4192.2004.00062.x
Hyon, S. (2018). Introducing genre and English for specific purposes. Routledge.
Imsa-ard, P. (2021). Genre analysis of research article abstracts in language education and acquisition research. KKU International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(2), 74-98. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/KKUIJ/article/view/241642
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2013). Generic characterisation of civil engineering research article abstracts. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 19(3), 1-10.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2015). Distinguishing textual features characterizing structural variation in research articles across three engineering sub-discipline corpora. English for Specific Purposes, 37, 74-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2014.06.008
Kurniawan, E. (2023). Humanities dissertation abstracts in Indonesian and English universities: A comparative move analysis. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 23(2), 57-74. https://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2023-2302-04
Kwan, B. S. C. (2006). The schematic structure of literature reviews in doctoral theses of applied linguistics. English for Specific Purposes, 25(1), 30-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.06.001
Li, Q., & Pramoolsook, I. (2015). Research article abstracts in two subdisciplines of business—move structure and hedging between management and marketing. English Language Teaching, 8(1), 52-62. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v8n1p52
Lim, J. M. H. (2006). Method sections of management research articles: A pedagogically motivated qualitative study. English for Specific Purposes, 25(3), 282-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.07.001
Liu, Y., & Buckingham, L. (2018). The schematic structure of discussion sections in applied linguistics and the distribution of metadiscourse markers. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 34, 97-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2018.04.002
Loan, T. K. B. (2022). Move-step analysis of research article abstracts. World Journal of English Language, 12(6), 204-219. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v12n6p204
Lorés, R. (2004). On RA abstracts: From rhetorical structure to thematic organisation. English for Specific Purposes, 23(3), 280-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2003.06.001
Martin, J. R. (1992). English text: System and structure. John Benjamins.
Nguyen, T. T. L. (2018). Rhetorical structures and linguistic features of English abstracts in Thai Rajabhat university journals. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 24(4), 71-84. https://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2018-2404-06
Nguyen, T. T. L., Li, Q., Nguyen, L., & Pramoolsook, I. (2014). TESOL conference abstracts: Discrepancies between potential writers’ knowledge and actual composition. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 20(3), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2014-2003-13
Nwogu, K. N. (1997). The medical research paper: Structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes, 16(2), 119-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(97)85388-4
Papangkorn, P., & Phoocharoensil, S. (2021). A comparative study of stance and engagement used by English and Thai speakers in English argumentative essays. International Journal of Instruction, 14(1), 867-888. https://doi.org/10.29333/IJI.2021.14152A
Pasavoravate, Y. (2011). Genre analysis of thesis and dissertation abstracts in linguistics written by students in Thailand and students in England [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Chulalongkorn University.
Pho, P. D. (2008). Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies, 10(2), 231-250. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445607087010
Rattanadilok Na Phuket, P., & Othman, N. B. (2015). Understanding EFL students’ errors in writing. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(32), 99-106.
Saeeaw, S., & Tangkiengsirisin, S. (2014). Rhetorical variation across research article abstracts in environmental science and applied linguistics. English Language Teaching, 7(8), 81-93. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v7n8p81
Saengsai, Y. (2015). Genre set of abstract, introduction, and conclusion in science and engineering PhD dissertations: Variations between the two disciplines [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Suranaree University of Technology.
Salager-Meyer, F. (1994). Hedges and textual communicative function in medical English written discourse. English for Specific Purposes, 13(2), 149-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(94)90013-2
Santos, M. B. D. (1996). The textual organization of research paper abstracts in applied linguistics. Text & Talk, 16(4), 481-499. https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.1996.16.4.481
Sermsook, K., Liamnimit, J., & Pochakorn, R. (2017). An analysis of errors in written English sentences: A case study of Thai EFL students. English Language Teaching, 10(3), 101-110. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n3p101
Sukhanindr, M. (2009). Hedging in research ariticles about English language teaching written by Thai and native speakers of english. Journal of Studies in the Field of Humanities, 16(2), 109-120. https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/abc/article/view/54445
Suntara, W., & Usaha, S. (2013). Research article abstracts in two related disciplines: Rhetorical variation between linguistics and applied linguistics. English Language Teaching, 6(2), 84-99. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n2p84
Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis. Cambridge university press.
Swales, J. M. (2004). Research genres: Explorations and applications. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139524827
Thongvitit, S., & Thumawongsa, N. (2017). A corpus-based study of English collocations found in the abstracts of research articles written by Thai EFL writers. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 7(12), 751-755.
Vathanalaoha, K., & Tangkiengsirisin, S. (2018). Genre analysis of experiment-based dental research article abstracts: Thai and international journals. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 24(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2018-2403-01
Ventola, E. (1994). Abstracts as an object of linguistic study. In S. Čmejrková, F. Daneš, & E. Havlová (Eds.), Writing vs speaking: Language, text, discourse, communication (pp. 333-352). Gunter Narr.
Waelateh, B., Boonsuk, Y., Ambele, E. A., & Jeharsae, F. (2019). An analysis of the written errors of Thai EFL students’ essay writing in English. Songklanakarin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 25(3), 55-82. https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/psujssh/article/view/242002
Wallwork, A. (2011). English for writing research papers. Springer.
Wang, F. (2019). Corpus-based genre analysis of master of translation and interpretation practice report in China: Comparative move and stance investigation between translation practice report and interpretation practice report [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Suranaree University of Technology.
Wang, F., & Pramoolsook, I. (2021). Attitude in abstracts: Stance expression in translation practice reports and interpretation practice reports by Chinese students. Discourse and Interaction, 14(1), 100-123. https://doi.org/10.5817/DI2021-1-100
Wannaruk, A., & Amnuai, W. (2016). A comparison of rhetorical move structure of applied linguistics research articles published in international and national Thai journals. RELC Journal, 47(2), 193-211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688215609230
Wiboonwachara, L., & Rungrojsuwan, S. (2020). Hedging in English research articles of Thai academic writers. The New English Teacher, 14(2), 82-98. https://assumptionjournal.au.edu/index.php/newEnglishTeacher/article/view/4330
Yakhontova, T. (2002). Selling or telling? The issue of cultural variation in research genre. In J. Flowerdew (Ed.), Academic discourse (pp. 216-232). Pearson Education Limited.
Yang, R., & Allison, D. (2003). Research articles in applied linguistics: Moving from results to conclusions. English for Specific Purposes, 22(4), 365-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(02)00026-1
Yoon, J., & Casal, J. E. (2020). Rhetorical structure, sequence, and variation: A step-driven move analysis of applied linguistics conference abstracts. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 30(3), 462-478. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12300
Zhang, B., Thuc, Q. B. T., & Pramoolsook, I. (2012). Moves and linguistic realizations: English research article abstracts by Vietnamese agricultural researchers. Asian ESP Journal, 8(3), 126-149.
Zhangsirikul, W. (2013). A study of moves in research article abstracts in the field of English language teaching [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Thammasat University.
