Analysing adjectives in scientific discourse: an exploratory study with educational applications for Spanish speakers at advanced university level

Although the literature on the textual properties of scientific discourse i s vast, less attention has been paid to the analysis of adjectival frequenc y in this type of discourse and its semantic implications, Adjectives are a significant communicative tool for scientists, showing the author's profes sional persona and manifesting a critical element in the rhetorical propert ies of research articles. They also allow scientists to describe and qualif y phenomena observed during the experimental stage and to anticipate agreem ents or oppositions to claims with caution and strategical consideration of the opinions and views of peers. Being interrelated with the evaluation an d interpretation of data collected in research, adjectives should not be an alysed as an isolated phenomenon but within the social and academic environ ment in which they occur. The purpose of this paper is to explore the frequ ency and use of adjectives in five advanced scientific texts on biochemistr y and to analyse the semantic implications of the observed occurrence. Thou gh limited to five research articles. this study contributes to clarifying the role of adjectives in this type of discourse and underline suggestions as to how to guide students, mainly Spanish-speaking university students, t o read and write research articles efficiently. (C) 2001 The American Unive rsity. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.