A Study On The Evaluative Function Of TCC In EST Discourse

As one of the major subgenres of English for Specific Purpose(ESP),English for Science and Technology(EST)refers to the texts about scientific research process and the communication of scientific research achievement.The main purpose of EST discourse is to convey information in an objective way.Thus it is necessary for EST discourses to avoid expressing subjective viewpoints of an individual.However,the interpersonal function of language indicates that EST discourse is also a way in which the writer gains approval and appreciation in the academic circle.Thus,the content of EST discourse is not a simple objective representation of the information.It also contains the subjective views toward the recorded scientific activities as well as achievements.The process of writing an EST discourse can be seen as construal operation as well as reconstruction of the writer towards the materials.In EST discourses,the subjectiveness should always be covered by the objective expressions.As a lexico-grammatical device with evaluative function,the Thematized Comment Construction(TCC)is of a wide distribution among EST discourses with an important evaluative function.Taking Appraisal Theory(AT)as the theoretical basis,the study is carried out from the perspective of the two planes of discourse proposed by Sinclair.Through the analysis on TCC in the 50 EST discourses selected from the publications of scientific and technological newspapers and literatures,the study analyzes the evaluative function of TCC both in autonomous as well as interactive plane.Meanwhile,the study exposes the subjective evaluation and attitude of the EST discourse writer covered by the objective form.The research questions of the study are as following:1)What is the theoretical basis of TCC as a device of Appraisal?2)What are the features in distribution of the autonomous appraisingresources?3)How do the writers of EST discourses impose the influence on thereaders through the evaluative functions in interactive plane?The findings of this study are summarized as following: 1)As a evaluative lexico-grammatical device of objectification,the evaluative function of TCC lies both in the words with evaluative meaning in commenting clause as well as the evaluative feature of the construction itself;2)In autonomous plane,the evaluation resource of TCC among EST discourses mainly refers to those of Appreciation.The thoughts of “heterogloss” and “grading” are universally adopted in EST discourses.Besides,the resources of dialogical contraction are frequently adopted by the writer to ally with the external voice while the resources of Force in Engagement system are usually adopted to intensify the evaluation on the scope of both time and distribution.The resources of Force,especially the resources of soften,are rarely adopted in EST discourses;3)The Reference function in interactive plane mainly refers to the contracted-type which is adopted in restricting the scope of the appraising as well as indicating the origin of the appraising resource.According to the different logical meanings of the deixis adopted in the commenting clause,the evaluative function of Lead-in can be further divided into cause and effect,transition,progress,sequence and contrast.This study is of both theoretical and practical significance.Theoretically,the study not only enriches the research on TCC by offering a new perspective in research but also penetrates a new way on analyzing the devices of objectification in EST discourses.Practically,the study helps the readers of EST discourses explore the subjective viewpoints and attitudes of the writers covered by the objective construction.It also enables the readers to get a comprehensive understanding towards the discourses.