| A preface is the text written at the beginning of a book,usually explaining the origin of the book,scope of the book,purposes,limitations,and the author’s acknowledgements.Stance markers and genre structures are important factors that influence the construction of the preface of a book,and also an important way for authors to express academic stance and communicate with others.A preface can not only convey academic information and guide readers efficiently,but reflect the language strategies and communicative purposes of the writers.However,few studies have focused on the genre structures and the use of stance markers in the preface of English and Chinese linguistics books.This study tries to select 20 prefaces(10 in English and 10 in Chinese)of academic works in the field of linguistics published from 2008 to 2016 by authoritative publishers such as Cambridge University Press and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press as research data.Based on Hyland’s stance markers model and Swales’ CARS model,this paper uses qualitative and quantitative analysis to explore the similarities and differences in the use of stance markers and genre structures in the preface of linguistics books.Through comparative analysis,the following research results are found: from the perspective of stance markers,(1)stance markers are used in the preface of both English and Chinese academic works,but they are more used in English prefaces than in Chinese prefaces.(2)Chinese prefaces focus on accuracy-oriented hedges while English prefaces focus on commitment-oriented hedges.(3)Chinese prefaces focus on boosters indicating certainty and emphasis,but boosters in English prefaces are more evenly distributed.(4)The use of attitude markers in the preface of English and Chinese works is relatively low.Chinese prefaces focus on the markers indicating importance,while English prefaces focus on the markers indicating agreement.(5)English prefaces have a high frequency of self-mentions and focus on first-person plural form,while Chinese prefaces focus on the third-person form.From the perspective of genre structures,the prefaces of English and Chinese linguistics books present similar move structures,but there are differences in the frequency of occurrence.There are seven moves in English and Chinese book prefaces:move 1 establishing a territory;move 2 gap;move 3 establishing credentials;move 4book description(step 1 origin of the book;step 2 goal/theme;step 3 features and advantages;step 4 structure);move 5 usage of the books(step 1 targeting the reader;step 2 compilation arrangement;step 3 additional words);move 6 acknowledgements(step 1 thanks for academic assistance;step 2 thanks for editorial support;step 3 thanks for family’s and friends);move 7 ending politely(step 1 limitations and grant instructions;step 2 responsibility;step 3 expectations).Among them,move 4 appears most frequently.In English book prefaces,the frequency of move 3 is higher,while in Chinese book prefaces,the frequency of move 5,move 6 and move 7 is higher.In the context of globalization,the communicative purpose of academic writers may promote the academic discourse in different cultural backgrounds to present similar move structures.Stance markers present different frequencies in each move structure.(1)Stance markers appear more frequently in move 4 in English and Chinese linguistics book prefaces.(2)In Chinese prefaces,hedges and boosters appear more frequently in move1 and move 2;Attitude markers mainly appear in move 6;Self-mentions mainly appear in move 5 and move 7.(3)In English prefaces,the frequency of hedges and boosters is higher in move 5 and move 6.Attitude markers appear more frequently in move 1 and move 2.Self-mentions mainly appear in move 1 and move 6.This study reveals the use of stance markers and genre structures in English and Chinese linguistics book prefaces,which theoretically broadens the research scope of move structures and stand markers.At the same time,it also sheds light on the teaching and writing of this section. |
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