Interfering Discourses In Academic Dialogue Evolution

Abstract

The paper focuses on the evolution of academic discourse in the dialogical perspective, starting from letters to the editor (LE) of leading academics into Voprosy Yazykoznaniya in the 1960s, through Research Letters (RL) to Academic Blogs (AB). The authors suggested a research algorithm that can be used in analyzing different academic discourse genres. The functional method was applied in the comparative analysis of the genres in question: such functions as сontact-building / supporting, direct / indirect addressing the recipient; informational, didactic / educational, oriented on self-presentation were distinguished. As the result of the study the relevant properties of the said genres were defined, such as the intentions of the addressee who may be expecting an answer or not; may be counting on immediate answer, or not counting at all, or disseminating the information on spec; besides, the number of recipients is taken into account – it may be a person / group of persons representing an official body (editorial board / editor-in-chief) or the professional pool; focus on some specific topic / a variety of topics; engaging in regular / one-time communication, and some other parameters. The research has revealed discursive as well as structural and linguistic characteristics of LE, RL and AB discourse. The authors analyze the genres from cultural (as of contemporary publication-process-related realia) point of view, as well as in terms of their influence on institutionalized communication.