Multiple Approaches to Analysing Academic Discourses: Similarities and Differences

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 1 - 14, 27.11.2019

Nayef Jomaa

Abstract

Within the previous
two decades, a considerable variety of approaches has been utilised to
understand and explore the complex, multifaceted essence of academic discourses.
These approaches are guided by either pedagogical needs and/or based on the emic
or etic perspectives of writers. Consequently, due to the increasing numbers of
teachers and scholars who are interested in investigating and exploring academic
discourses, it could be probably helpful to obtain knowledge about the
approaches employed for studying academic discourses. Hence, this article
compares definitions and analyses of the main approaches, specifically textual,
contextual and critical ones, to studying academic discourses by novice
researchers and highlights the similarities and/or differences in the analysis procedures.
 As a result, researchers could identify which
approach can be appropriately used to achieve their research goals and interests.

Keywords

academic discourse, approaches

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