Curs 9 - 27.11.

2013

Terms are part of terminology.

String compounds are a characteristic of special languages in English.
e.g. root in linguistics - terminologization and metaphor

Sample of specialist writing - molecular biology field

"Infection of Hela cells with adenovirus type 2 (Ad2), a DNA virus that multiplies in
the nucleus stimulates the formation of high molecular-weight virus-specific nuclear RNA
molecules, at least some of which are <15 KB (kilo base) in length. Late in the infectious
cycle 20-40% of the total nuclear RNA synthesis is virus-specific, and the great majority is
from 1 DNA strand, the r of rightward-reading strand in the accepted convention.
Exposure of the infected cells to 3 H-uridine for 1-2 minutes to label only
"nascent"(not yet finished) RNA results in the labeling of virus-specific RNA approximately
1-25 KB in length.
In general, the larger "nascent" RNA molecules are complementary to the Eco R1
restriction enzyme fragments which constitute the right 40% of the Ad2 genome and a smaller
RNA molecules are complementary to the Eco A fragment which occupies the left 60% of the
genome."
Hela cells - human cells
flue pipe support strap
city water chemical contamination monitoring programme.
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These can be unpacked and unpacking happens in popular science.

e.g. of headline: "Tourist holiday coach death crash enquiry verdict appeal decision
sensation".
These can create ambiguity.
"Lung cancer death rates are clearly associated with increased smoking."
There can be ambiguity and it can be manipulation.
Passive structures are a characteristic of special languages.
Semiotics is a science on its own nowadays but there are 3 types of science:
1. icons (physically resemble their meaning)
e.g. a picture of a lake used to represent water
2. indices/indexes (statistically associated with their meaning)
e.g. a train whistle represents a coming train
smoke represents fire.
3. symbols (concrete tokens but the association between symbol and meaning is
conventional)

Special languages have to make communicative functions

1. referential (to transmit information)
2. metalinguistic

The more abstract the language becomes, that is science has no longer concrete
reference, the referential function diminishes and the metalinguistic function takes over,
that is linguistic symbols are replaced by abstract symbols.
There are several types of symbols
 chemical symbols (represent atoms, formulae, equations)
 geometrical symbols (letters and figures - they represent spatial relations)
  algebraic symbols (letters and figures - represent a range of concepts, equations)
 logical symbols (the logic of propositions etc.)

Letters are linguistic symbols.

In special languages, symbols are conventional. One or the same symbol can be used
analogical or arbitrary.
e.g. X in maths
as a traffic sign
+ in maths
as a cross
Special texts use a wide range of these symbols.

Analysis of the features of special languages began in the 60's. In English, this can be
traced back by Halliday, Mc Intosh and Stevens (1964)
The definition of register is : "Language varies as its function varies; it differs in
different situations. The name given to a variety of a language distinguished according to its
use is register."
Register analysis from the beginning involved the 3 situational variables first
described by Halliday:
FIELD (subject matter)
MODE (whether the language is written or spoken)
TENOR (the relationship between the participants)

The realization that a text is shaped in relation to its communicative purpose led to
interests in the text's genre (how a text relates systematically to its context of culture).
A consideration of a genre of a text helps account for the context of the text, not only for its
form.
There are 3 main genres in literary criticism and literature:
 poetry
 prose
 drama
Subgenres
 poetry : lyric, epic, ode, ballad
 drama: comedy, tragedy, kitchen sink

In the systemic functional perspective, systemic grammar is associated with Halliday's

model.
"A genre is a set of texts that share the same socially recognized purpose
and similar rhetorical and structural elements to achieve this purpose."

Registers function/impose constrains at the linguistic level of vocabulary, syntax,

morphology. Genres operate at the level of structure or text.

Definition - American linguist J. Swales ("Genre analysis" - 1990)

"Genres (research report, explanation, business report) are completable structured
texts, while registers (language of scientific reporting, language of newspaper reporting,
bureaucratic language) represent more generalizable stylistic choices."