Application of personal pronouns in introduction section of English medical research articles
LIANG Shao?Lan GE Guang?Chun HUANGFU Wei?Hua WANG Rong PENG Fan
Department of Foreign Languages School of Basic Medicine Fourth Military Medical University Xi?an 710033 China
【Abstract】 AIM: To investigate and contrast the personal pronouns used in introduction sections of English medical research articles written by Chinese medical writers (CMWs) and native English speaking medical writers (NMWs). METHODS: The personal pronouns used in 50 introduction sections written by CMWs and 20 ones by NMWs were investigated and compared using ESP genre analysis and the contrastive approach. RESULTS: The first personal pronouns were found mainly used in their plural forms in subjective cases and more favorably used in the introduction sections written by NMWs (85%) than those by CMWs (54%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese medical writers use significantly less the first personal pronouns than their native English speaking counterparts which may in some way result from their difference in thought pattern and culture transfer.
【Keywords】 English; medical research article; introduction; personal pronouns; ESP genre analysis; contrastive analysis
1.1材料我们建立了两个英文医学科研论文前言部分的数据库，即中国作者撰写的前言部分语料库（CMW）和英语为母语的外国作者所撰写的前言部分语料库（NMW）. CMW由中国出版的10种核心期刊及源期刊英文版随机选出的50篇最新的英文医学研究性论文前言部分组成；NMW由美国及英国出版的4种最具权威的期刊中随机选出的20篇最新医学研究性论文前言部分组成. 所选外国期刊为：The Journal of the American Medical Association (J1) The New England Journal of Medicine (J2) The Lancet(J3) The British Medical Journal (J4). 中国期刊英文版为: Chinese Journal of Traumatology (J5) Chinese Medical Journal (J6) ACTA Pharmacologia Sinica (J7) ACTA Biochimica et. Biophysica Sinica (J8) Science in China Ser. C Life Sciences (J9) Chinese Medical Science Journal (J10) World Journal of Gastroenterology (J11) Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics (J12) Asian Journal of Andrology (J13) Cell Research (J14).
在中外医学作者撰写的前言中 第一人称代词复数we后接动词的主动语态为前言部分中主要的使用形式. 作者在语步3中通过提出研究理论或方法、陈述研究的目的以及报告其研究结果或发现 来说明作者自己在研究中做了哪些工作. 例如：We investigated differential expression of these genes in various tissues and under various stresses or conditions allowing us to develop a greaternderstanding of the importance of the PI pathway. (J14?7)We used the full?length HPO (15ku) fused to GAL4 DNA?binding domain as bait in the yeast two?hybrid system to creen a human testis cDNA library. (J12?2) We designed a series of primer pairs based on the equences of the conserved regions of the rat and monkey homolous gene cDNA. (J8?3) We ompared the hormonal patterns in volunteers participating in a contraceptive trial with levonorgestrel implants and testosterone endcannoate injectable at an aim to identify possible factors contributing to the differences in spermatogenic suppressionbetween esponders and non?responders in Chinese men. (J13?1) In this study we observed the clinical efficacy of CVVH in the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. (J6?2)We developed a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction ethod according to the published genome sequence of the SARS?associated coronavirus. (J6?3)We examined a number of local populations of D. lacertosa almost covering the known geographic range of this pecies. (J14?5)Here we report the results ofthe second planned interim analysis which we are releasing in accordance with the recommendation of the independent data and safety onitoring committee. (J2?1) We present a review of OSAS children diagnosed between January 1997 and December1998 and their outcomes. (J6?4) In this study we identified a novel human testis specific gene TSP1 which encodes a putative bHLH?Zip transcription factor. (J13?4) We conducted a case?control study using data from the Massachusetts Department ofpublic Health?s Complaint and Incident Reporting System and from MDs assessments to provide a broad examination of the types of injuries that result from resident?to?resident violent incidents. (J1?3) We present new data on the health insurance coverage characteristics of adolescents …. We assess the health insurance status of dolescents …. We then examine trends in adolescent health care coverage …. (J1?4) We prospectively studied a large community?based sample of persons in whom plasma ariuretic peptide levels were routinely measured and who were followed for the occurrence of major cardiovascular events and death. (J2?5)We have found this technique particularly useful where traditional fixation techniques are inadequate because of trochanteric comminution or deficient bone stock. (J8?5)
但就提出研究目标和目的而言 外国医学作者多用we aimed to 而中国医学作者多用the aim/purpose of the research is/was…，或 the research/study was to…. 例如 The purpose of this study was to determine whether TP could reduce the chronic CsA nephrotoxicity and the xpression of TGF in tubular and interstitial cells in the rate model of CsA?induced chronic ephrotoxicity. (J8?7) The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the relationship between gastric H pylori infectionand reflux esophagitis (RE) BE and gastric IM in China. (J11?3)The present study was to investigate the effects of Res on the secondary spinal cord edema. (J7?6)study was undertaken to review our results in treating compromised abductorswith tension band in revision total hip arthroplasty. (J5?4)The present study aimed to make a comprehensiveanalysis on phyulogenetic relationships of the family yprinidae based on complete cytochrome b gene sequences. (J9?2)The present study is to clone its homologue from rat testis. (J14?2) We aimed to establish if asymptomatic ubduralhaemorrhages arise after delivery to assess their frequency and to ascertain their resolution. (J33)
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