Konektoru lietojums latviešu zinātniskajos rakstos

Abstract

The means of creating the cohesion of the text have not been looked at in the research of Latvian scientific texts. Since it is important within the context of academic writing and language learning, the purpose of this article is to update the research on the linkage of propositions in Latvian scientific texts and, having studied the usage of various linguistic approaches, present the results of the feasibility study on the use of linguistic means, while also identifying issues that need further research. The research carried out is based on an analysis of the cohesion tools in two social and natural science articles, followed by quantitative research of the texts of six scientific disciplines (600 texts in total) in order to selectively examine the frequency of use of connectors and the differences in texts of different fields of science using AntConc software. The results of the study show that the binding elements that make up the cohesion of the text are a heterogeneous group in terms of belonging to different word classes, as already concluded in previous text syntax studies, as well as in relation to the use of grammatical forms (e.g. future form, participles). Part of the established binding elements of proposition (pronouns and nouns) relate mainly to the provision of referential identity, while others, on the other hand, are signs of an interactive metadiscourse and implement various semantic attitudes that allow them to be interpreted in this context. According to the results of the analysis on the frequency of use of connectors, there are differences between the texts of different fields of science. A further systemic study of these could form the basis for determining the specific characteristics of scientific reasoning by means of a quantitative method. Further systemic research of connectors could be partly based on the analysis of semantic attitudes carried out in syntax research (Latvian and other languages), the basis of text linguistics in cohesion research, as well as research on the interactive features of metadiscourse. At the same time, in connection with the analysis of semantics, text, discourse, and metadiscourse, it is necessary to focus on the development of the terminology of the topic in Latvian in the future. This, combined with a systemic continuation of research in the future, would have a practical role in the development of the classification of connectors, a catalogue, a lexicographic description, and teaching tools for academic writing.