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On the Functional Approach to Absolute Constructions in Scientific Prose Style (With Special Reference to Engineering Research Articles)




Author(s)

Dr. Minoo Khamesian

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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2016.12.005

NIT University, Babol, Iran

To be able to learn and use English, the lingua franca of science and technology, for effective international communication, becoming acquainted with the basic language of one’s profession seems to be crucially important. In this respect, written academic discourse is a considerably broad notion requiring consideration of various aspects both on the linguistic and extra-linguistic planes. The present work linguostylistically (on both semantic and metasemiotic levels) analyzed the functional aspect of using absolute constructions, a predicative construction in which non-finite forms of the verbs stand in predicate relation to their overt subject, in technical writing. The results revealed that the distinctive morphosyntactic structure of absolute constructions, although purely linguistic, would provide to serve functions far beyond linguistics proper. Otherwise stated, absolute constructions being concise and laconic are capable of communicating complete informative line within a sentence, giving an opportunity to fit more information into a smaller volume. Interestingly, contrary to widely believed notion, the preposition of them rather than postposition, preferred in the scientific register, could be allocated to their rhetorical impact. In addition, due to their frequency in this style, they need to be paid their deserved attention while teaching EAP to engineering students.

absolute constructions, functional style, engineering research articles