Academic writing and new Englishes: Unifying the contrasts

Vol.4,No.2(2011)

Abstract
This contribution tries to unify two recent research strands in English linguistics: studies in academic writing and in New Englishes. This is useful because, in line with the prominent theory of social constructionism, discourses in both strands can be seen as practices of communities that negotiate their cultural norms. The relationship between language, cognition, and (national) culture is illustrated on the basis of several models, research and its application in teaching is discussed. A proposed socio-cognitive model offers new insights into old concepts and stimulates exchange in academic discourses between researchers from different cultures.

Keywords:
academic writing; New Englishes; social constructionism; genre; models; socio-cognitive model
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