ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
WEEK 1
 Think about this:
1. What are some
examples of discipline-
specific language used in
the scientific research
papers?
2. How does the language
differ between research
papers/ document from
different disciplines?
According to…

The purpose of words is to convey

meaning. However, a word takes on a life
of its own and its eventual meaning can
stray far from its original intent. The way
words drastically change can cause
confusion with translations, make it more
difficult to keep our speech politically
correct, and result in generational
language disparities (Harper, 2015).
Words with multiple meanings..
 ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
Academic language is the language used in
academic settings and for academic purposes to
help students acquire and use knowledge (Anstrom,
2010). It is the language needed for students to
access disciplinary content and textbooks and
successfully participate in activities and
assessments involves knowledge and ability to use
specific linguistic features associated with academic
disciplines (Gottlieb & Ernst-Slavit, 2014).
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
It includes language used in textbooks, in
classrooms, on tests, and in each discipline. It
is different in vocabulary and structure from
the everyday spoken English of social
interactions. Each type of communication
(both academic and social) has its purpose,
and neither is superior to the other (Gebhard &
Willett, 2008).
ACADEMIC LANGUAGE
The features of academic language may vary as
a function of the discipline for example
differences between the academic language
used in social science vs. mathematics, topic,
and whether the information is communicated
orally or via written text. Knowledge and
understanding of academic language can be
readily applied by you in everyday situations,
allowing you to communicate more effectively
and precisely.
Language Across Discipline
(Mathematics Text)
Mathematics can be easily recognized because
of its unique language features. Its most
prominent language feature is the use of
symbols in place of words, such as symbols for
operations like’+’ for addition, ‘x’ for
multiplication. It also often uses letters with
special meanings, like ‘x’, ‘y’, and ‘z’ are used to
stand for variables or the unknown. Notations,
numbers, and formulas are typical of math
texts. If there are nouns and verbs in ordinary
language, in the language of math, the nouns
could be numbers or expressions with numbers
and the verb could be the equal sign =.
Business Texts
Like mathematics, business has a
special vocabulary (jargon), so first of
all you have to learn its jargon, like
remit, obligate, loan, collateral, interest,
stocks, etc. Some compound nouns
are standard expressions in business,
like tax collection system, company
car, price list, and bulk buying. Polite
expressions such as the following are
part of the ritual of politeness in
business: (Cortes de los Rios, 2010).
 Social Science Texts

Political Science (communism, monarchy,

and executive branch), Economic
(market, profit, equity, and trade
relations), Sociology (migration, social,
class, and discrimination), Psychology
(depression, suicidal, personality, and
motivation) are some of the jargons in
Social Science Text. Graphs and tables
are common features of social science
readings, therefore, knowing how to
analyze graphic data is a big advantage.
Natural Science Texts
In natural science texts such as physics,
chemistry, and biology, technical terms,
symbols (ph, NaCI, and CO2) and
abbreviations are common. Similar to
other disciplines, common words like
power, pressure, force, work, and
impulse have a technical meaning. To
help yourself understand many of the
technical terms, you have to know some
prefixes (uni, semi, and multi), root
words (bio, geo, vis, and derma), and
suffixes. Diagrams and drawings are
also characteristic of science texts.
 Literature and the Arts
Like the other disciplines, literature and
the arts have their content-specific terms
or jargon (examples: gothic mood, symbol,
balance, mosaic, hue, etc.) but what makes
them different is the dominant use of
connotative language and figures of
speech to describe and convey content.
Vivid language is used to create images
and impressions. The importance given to
language and structure is due to the value
attached to a work’s ‘style’. In other words,
creativity weighs as much as content in
literature and the arts.
Text Structure

Text structure refers to how the information within a

written text is organized. Text types depends on the
primary purpose of a text and what information the
author introduces in the text. As authors write a text
to communicate an idea, they will use a structure
that goes along with the idea (Meyer, 1985).
 Nine Main Informational Text Structures
a.Definition
b.Description
c.Recount of a sequence
d.Cause-Effect
e.Problem-Solution
f. Comparison and Contrast
g.Enumeration
h.Classification
i. Thesis-Evidence
DEFINITI

ONDefinition text structure is the method of
identifying a given term and making its
meaning clear. Its main purpose is to clarify and
explain concepts, ideas and issues by
answering the question, “What does it mean?”

> definition is the dominant text structure of

Social Sciences Texts and Literature and the Arts.
 the verb is/are, for example, can be, is
defined as, means;
SIGNAL words that refer to composition such as
contain, make-up, involves;
WORDS
words that suggest a likeness such as
FOR appears to be, refers to;
DEFINITI general words that refer to a class or
genus, such as form of
ON
(exercise), a branch of (engineering), a
type of (worship), a kind of ship, etc.
FIND THE HINT WORDS
 DESCRIPTION
A descriptive text gives concrete details
about appearance, characteristics, and
actions. This type of text structure is
common to Business Texts and Literature
and the Arts.
Signal description
• adjectives to describe size (example: huge, small, or numbers that
specify
dimensions)
• shape (example: spherical, octagon), position (middle, top)
• texture (example: rough, smooth, velvety)
• color (example: verdant green, onyx-like)
• adverbs to qualify an action or thing (example: evenly, roughly,
consistently)
• adjective phrases (example: a 10-gallon container, a four-day
weekend, 2-day-old chicks)
FIND THE HINT WORDS:
RECOUNT OF A SEQUENCE
• A recount of a sequence is a chronological
narration of a historical period, a
sequential description of a process or a
procedure.
• Recount of a sequence text structure is
common to Social Sciences Texts.
 SIGNAL WORDS:
• First, second, now, before, after,
then, finally, while, meanwhile,
during
• Other expressions of time duration
describing the steps in a
process or procedure
• Dates may also be considered as
language cues
FIND THE HINT WORDS:
 CAUSE AND EFFECT
A cause and effect text presents reasons why a
situation is obtained. Though logically the cause
comes before the result, in academic writing it is the
effect that is usually presented first, perhaps to
achieve a more dramatic effect. Cause-effect text
structure is a common text structure for Social
Sciences Texts and Literature and the Arts.
SIGNAL WORDS:
This is how you do it:
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
• Problem and solution text structure shows the
development of a problem and the solution(s) to the
problem. The author takes a problem, clarifies or
explains the problem and suggests one or more
solutions to the problem.
• Problem and solution text structure is a common
structure for Mathematics Texts and Business Texts.
Sample
 Comparison and Contrast
Compare and contrast is a text structure or pattern of
organization where the similarities and differences of two or
more things are explored. It is important to remember that
with the compare and contrast text structure the text should
be discussing similarities and differences. If the text only
discusses similarities, it is only comparing. Likewise, if it only
discusses ways that the things are different, it is only
contrasting. The text must do both to be considered compare
and contrast. This structure is commonly used for
Mathematics and Social Science texts.
Signal
words
This is how you do it
ENUMERATION

An enumeration is a listing, as in a list of parts,

of characteristics, of examples etc. It is the
common text structure for Social Science Texts
and Literature and the Arts.
Sample
CLASSIFICATION
This text structure is an organizational strategy
whereby authors arrange groups of persons, places,
things, or abstract ideas according to a common.
Some examples are types of personalities,
groupings in a school, species of animals,
categories of films, and television shows.
LANGUAGE CUES
there are several types/kinds of, a part
of, an example of,
groups/kinds/ways/types/classes of,
another kind of, and divided into.
This is how you do it:
Three approaches to determine the text structure

a.Noting language cues

b.Making graphic
representation of the text
(text mapping)
c.Outlining the framework of a
text by showing its main idea,
and subtopics.