A Rhetorical Content Analysis of Moroccan Regional Agronomic Abstracts: Textual Practices of Plurilingual Science Communication

In order to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the varied ways multiple language competencies are invoked in scientific communication and publication, this study features a content analysis of a collection of English, French, and Arabic abstracts from 14 articles of Al-Awamia, a Moroccan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Written communication 2024-01, Vol.41 (1), p.107-137
Main Author: Mahmou-Werndli, Alexander J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abstracts
Academic discourse
Arabic language
Audiences
Communication
Communication (Thought Transfer)
Content analysis
Content Area Writing
English language
French language
Linguistic competence
Multilingualism
Scientific technical language
Semitic Languages
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Summary:In order to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the varied ways multiple language competencies are invoked in scientific communication and publication, this study features a content analysis of a collection of English, French, and Arabic abstracts from 14 articles of Al-Awamia, a Moroccan agronomic journal. Mapping rhetorically significant differences across abstracts in different languages suggests that EN/FR abstracts are tailored to an international specialist audience and Arabic abstracts favor a domestic policymaker audience in several key ways. The textual moves made to address these different audiences are typical of those studied by scholars of science communication, and accordingly this study indicates that plurilingual textual practices in scientific writing are associated with differences in audience and stakeholders. These findings carry implications for trans/pluri/multilingually oriented scholars of scientific communication, as well as for those who prepare future researchers for the demands of publication, suggesting that the flexible use of diverse linguistic resources is important to scientific practice in a globalized world.
ISSN:0741-0883
1552-8472
DOI:10.1177/07410883231205619