{"id":874,"date":"1977-04-26T11:15:47","date_gmt":"1977-04-26T17:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discurso.info\/?p=874"},"modified":"2016-12-27T12:49:36","modified_gmt":"2016-12-27T18:49:36","slug":"towards-a-coding-system-for-the-argumentative-functions-of-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/1977\/04\/26\/towards-a-coding-system-for-the-argumentative-functions-of-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Towards a coding system for the argumentative functions of language"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Casta\u00f1os, Fernando. 1977. \u201cTowards a coding system for the argumentative functions of language\u201d. <em>English for Specific Purposes, an International Seminar<\/em>. Bogot\u00e1. The British Council. 90-96.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/www.discurso.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Casta\u00f1os-1977-Towards-a-coding1.pdf\">PDF<\/a>) (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.discurso.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/TOWARDS-A-CODING-SYSTEM-FOR-THE-ARGUMENTATIVE-FUNCTIONS-OF-LANGUAGE.doc\">DOC<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">TOWARDS A CODING SYSTEM FOR THE ARGUMENTATIVE FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Fernando Casta\u00f1os, Universidad Nacional, Mexico<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">A basic assumption present, implicitly or explicitly, in the development of\u00a0 English for Science programs is that scientific English la different from everyday English. Investigation of the extent to which this is so is not a trivial problem. To illustrate the considerations that need to be made, a few uses of the verb can<br \/>\nare presented in the sentences below. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">1. \u201cHe can\u2019t see.\u201d (Because he is blind) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">2. \u201cI can\u2019t hear.\u201d (Because there la too much noise) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">3. The ball can pass through hole A or hole B, but not through C. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">4. We can see that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">X = 7. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In sentence 1 the verb <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> la used to express incapacity depending on intrinsic factors. In sentence 2 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> expresses incapacity depending on extrinsic factors. In sentence 3 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> expresses possibility. In the last sentence, which is not uncommon in science, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> is used as a device to signal that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">X = 7 <\/span>follows logically from previous assertions. Often, in sentences of this sort, it also means that one or several steps in the argumentation have been omitted. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The examples seem to suggest that: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">I. The meaning of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> depends on the context it appears in and the \u2018internal logics\u2019 of the argumentation it forma part of. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">II. The meaning of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> in each sentence could be derived from a general common meaning, that of capacity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">III. Even if II was true, the fluent use (production or reception of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> in each case, and specially in 4, could not be expected from a person who encounters it for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In other words, reading a meaning of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">can<\/span> seems to depend in part on understanding what the sentence it appears in is doing in a piece of discourse, what its function is. But the function of a sentence depends in turn on the structure of the discourse itself -and, of course, on the meaning of its constituents, which shows the complexity of the matter. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The nature of language functions in scientific discourse is, thus, crucial to our preoccupation. It is with problems in the identification of the communicative functions of argumentation that I wish to deal with in this paper. I will begin by presenting some considerations concerning the act of definition. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In previous works (Casta\u00f1os a, Casta\u00f1os b), I have comparad definitions from three scientific disciplines, physics, biology, and mathematics. 1 have found that enti ties, for example \u201cmolecule\u201d, \u201cparticle\u201d, \u201cscalar product\u201d, are defined for different purposes. For this reason, definitions can be realised differently content\u2014wise, i.e. an entity to be defined can be associated with different distinctive characteristics, thus making possible different definitions for the same entity. Consider, for instance, the following definitions of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">molecule: <\/span>\u201c1) A combination of two or more atoms hound together; 2) The smallest particle of a chemical compound or substance that exhibits the chemical properties of that substance.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The purpose of a definition depends on the purpose of its context, which in turn depends on its place within a unit of discourse. The purpose of a unit of discourse depends on the purpose of the science it forms part of and on the purposes of science in general. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In the works referred to above, the following set of characteristics was also found: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">A. The entity being defined is considered for the first time in the sense defined. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">B. A definition associates the entity being defined with a set of distinctive characteristics. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">C. A definition classifies the entity being defined. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">D. A definition establishes the category of the object being defined. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">E. The set of associations entity\u2014characteristics can be considered as a set of axioms. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">These characteristics \u2018explain\u2019 the different formal realisations of the act of definition. Different forms focus on different characteristics. Consider, for example: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">1. A <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">neutron <\/span>is a subatomic particle which has no charge and a mass approximately equal to that of the proton. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">2. The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">neutron, <\/span>on the other hand, has no charge and a mass approximately equal to that of the proton. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">3. \u2026 the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">proton, <\/span>with possitive charge, and the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">neutron, <\/span>with no charge. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">4. If a particle has no charge, it is a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">neutron. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Form 1, \u201c(X) is (Y) which (Z)\u201d, is \u2018nearly ideal\u2019 in so much as most characteristics of the act are represented in it. Form 2, \u201c(X) has (Z)\u201d, focuses mainly on characteristic B. Form 3, \u201cand (X), with (Z)\u201d, focuses mainly characteristics B and D. Form 4, \u201cIf (Y) has (Z), it is (X)\u201d, focuses on characteristic E; it is interesting that it does so in an indirect manner. Although it is possible to refer to characteristic E directly by introducing the word \u201caxiom\u201d, as when number systems are defined, it is more common to use the \u2018style\u2019 of logical argumentation used in contexts where precondition E is focused. (We will later consider this form in more detail.) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The characteristics also explain the coherence of a definition with a subsequent act, like the proof of a theorem (which will refer to E) or an identification (which will refer to B). They are, thus, analogous to the preconditions that explain the realisation of the act of ordering and its coherence with other acts, like rejecting the order or accepting it (see Labov, 1972). I, therefore, believe that it is justifiable to call A, B, C, D, E the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">preconditions <\/span>of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">difinition. <\/span>Incidentally, due to precondition A, the use of paralinguistic features, like inverted commas or italics, also makes sense; strictly speaking, the entity defined is not part of the vocabulary of the science at the moment the definition occurs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">A consideration of the preconditions of definition leads us to the discovery of a phenomenon that could he called ellipsis in definition. It seems to me that there are two types of such ellipsis. In one, not all the \u201csub-functions\u201d (characterization, classification, . . .) that constitute a definition are marked explicitly. Some instances of this type of ellipsis might be explainable in terms of conventional textual ellipsis. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In the other type of ellipsis, one act performs the function of two. In mathematics, for example, definitions often, take the form of implications. Generally, in this field much is made of the fact that implication does not mean logical equivalence (\u201cA if and only if B\u201d means \u201cA if B\u201d and \u201cB if A\u201d). Therefore, in derivations or equivalence the implications in both the \u201csenses\u201d required by equivalences are presented. However, this is not the case with definitions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In a definition, as the characteristics are distinctive, they imply the entity; as the entity is a category, it implies the characteristics. When the definition takes the form of an implication, this is not made explicit, e.g. in: \u201cDEFINITION 6.2. A linear programming problem is said to be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">non degenerate <\/span>if <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">every \u00a0mxm <\/span>submatrix selected from the mx(q + 1) augumented matrix (A,B) is nonsigular. (Beaumont, 1963) The implication in one sense means implications in both senses (equivalence). This type of ellipsis cannot be explained in terms of textual ellipsis. For the cases where no textual explanation for ellipsis is possible, I propose the term ellipsis <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in discourse<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">[1]<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The study of the preconditions of definition provides some insight into the nature of comprehension of scientific language. It seems that it would be erroneous to say that scientific language is completely different from common language. It would not be sensible to say that in everyday conversation people do not define; they do so to agree on what they are talking about. However, the intricate interrelation of argumentative acts, the different types of purpose operating simultaneously at different levels of generality, the intimate relation between context and argumentative function, and the phenomenon of ellipsis in discourse with its peculiarities suggest a high degree of refinement and complexity in scientific language. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Sophistication, which I think will not necessarily exist <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">a priori <\/span>, is a nearly essential difference between common and scientific languages in the sense that its lack could well result in incomprehension of scientific language. Intuitively, I propose a model in which common and scientific language are sets that intersect in a broad area and in which the elements specific to scientific language depend on the common elements; the former are built upon the latter. It is the task of a person learning scientific language to do the construction. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">To solve the problems of how different scientific language is from common language and how different are the languages of the different sciences, systematic comparisons between them are needed. At present, we have tools to make the comparisons at the levels of lexis, structure, and text, and some such comparisons are being made. However, it seems to me that to interpret the results of such comparisons properly, results concerning the discourse level would be required. As Widdowson has pointed out, \u201c\u2026a knowledge of how the language functions in communication does not automatically follow from a knowledge of sentences.\u201d (Widdowson, 1972). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Comparisons of the type we are interested in require a coding system, for the communicative functions of language, specially the argumentative ones (definition, classification, generalization, etc.). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">It seems that most expressions relevant to an argumentation are associations of an entity with characteristics. Distinctions between these two parts of expressions have been made. In grammar they have been called psychological subject or theme and predicate or theme (see Halliday, 1970.) In logic they are simply called subject and predicate.) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In general the subject has the referential value. However, in a definition the reference lies in the predicate, in the set of characteristics associated to the object being defined. If we omit the predicate, we do not know what the author is talking about. However, if we omit the subject we do know. This distinguishes a definition from any other act. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">I believe operational definitions for most argumentative functions will be possible in terms of referential and truth values. That is, by considering what an expression refers to (an object of the world, an abstract one, one previously referred to, etc.) and how true (logically and observationa1ly) it is at the moment it appears, we will know which act it is performing. Moreover, it will not be detrimental if we cannot do this for ah functions, if we have to define some in terms of others. If we have defined at least one independently, the system will be consistent. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">It may seem that we have defined definition objectively as an expression whose reference lies on the predicate (see Casta\u00f1os b) . The fact is that in a definition the subject\u2014argument does not have the reference <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">that the theory it is going to be part of requires. <\/span>For example, air usually means \u201cthat which we breath\u201d. This may be insufficient for theory that requires careful measurements of air and a replication of those measurements; a definition in terms of its components will be required. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">We are, thus, confronted with the question: How do we know what degree of precision a scientific theory demands?, which partly means: By which mechanisms are the preconditions of a definition set up? When we have answered the question, the characterization of definition in terms of referential value will be operational. Sometimes the word \u201cdefined\u201d expresses the need to define an entity. However, this is not al\u2014 ways the case. The author may be establishing criteria for defined entities, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">defined x<\/span> rather than <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">x<\/span> being the object of the definition. Further, the word does not appear always; consider for example what Selinker, Trimble, and Trimble call \u201cimplicit definitions\u201d (Selinker et. al., ibid.). This means that before we attempt any counts of even this simple act, we need at least a general understanding of other acts and of the whole structure of discourse. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">In the second part of this paper I will present a rather schematic account of the development of science incorporating different aspects that philosophy of science has considered. From this account we will obtain a list of argumentative functions and a general picture of scientific discourse, which I hope will be the basis for the coding system needed. I will, finally, present a few considerations that could be useful in syllabus design for EST. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">The first stage in the development of a branch of a science is an observation of the aspect of reality to be studied. Then, an abstraction of the relevant features (variables, characteristics, etc.) takes place. In the next step, a theory to account for the phenomena of the aspect of reality under study is formulated. The theory consists of basic concepts, basic principles, empirical consequences and an intended range of application. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">On the basis of the account presented, it is possible to produce another in terms that will be useful for language researchers and teachers. I present below a \u201clinearised\u201d model in diagramatical form<\/span>[2]<span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"326\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">1. Observing the world (objects, phenomena\u2026)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"326\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">2. Comparing (through observation or symbolically).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Obtaining data\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">from the world<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">3. Abstracting relevant characteristics of objects and phenomena (primitive formation of concepts). <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">4. Generalizing.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">5.. Defining first concepts (having a rather close connection with reality)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0 inducing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"331\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">6. \u201cConcretion\u201d(association of first concepts with objects and phenomena that represent them in reality)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"331\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">7. Classifying (concepts, objects, phenomena) <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">deducing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"326\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">8. Observing relations between characteristics (concepts) as represented b3 objects and phenomena. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"326\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">9. Comparing relations<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">obtaining data from <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">the world<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\">10. Abstracting relevant relations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\">11. Generalizing relevant relations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">12. Formulation of \u201cfirst\u201d laws.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">13. Selection (Abstraction) of the relevant concepts and laws from previous abstractions and generalizations.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0deducing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"326\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">14. (Ad hoc) definition of concepts and principles (including logical ones) that make the theory \u2018fit\u2019, coherent. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">axiomatizing<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">15. Obtention (logical conclusion) of \u00a0other laws. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">16. Deducing of examples (second type of concretion) of objects and phenomena that represent concepts in the real world. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">17. Deduction of relations that are to hold according to theory (\u201cprediction\u201d) (special type of concentration + logical deduction) <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0 inducing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">18. Structured observation of reality. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">19. Expression of the observation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"329\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">20. Comparison of 19 with prediction. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0obtaining data from <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">the world<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">From this diagram, and making the assumption (idealization) that the definitions, classifications, etc, in the different parts of it are essentially the same, we obtain the following list of argumentative functions: Expression of an observation, Comparison, Abstraction, Generalization, Definition, Classification, Concretion, Logical conclusion, Prediction. It seems that, due to the way it was obtained, the list will serve to code the argumentative level of scientific discourse nearly comprehensively. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Other levels, e.g. that of value systems (how elegant a theory is, etc.) and that of \u201cpedagogical\u201d devices (example, summary, etc.) will require other categories. I, thus, believe that we will have obtained most of the categories of a coding system for the argumentative functions when we have specified, in addition to an information definition, preconditions and operational definitions to each of the following functions: <\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">INTUITIVE DEFINITION <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">PRECONDITIONS <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">ATTEMPTED OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Expression of an observation <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Association of an object with characteristics\/ considered to the observationally true <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Comparison <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Finding similarities and differences in the amount and type of characteristics (symbolic) <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Abstraction <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Selection of (type of) characteristics relevant\/considered worthwile studying <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Generalization <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Definition <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Grouping characteristics to be considered in sets\/naming the sets <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Classification <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Allocation of objects under categories already (defined\/ \u201cidentification\u201d (symbolic) <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">. <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Concretion <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Identification of objects in the world that represent concepts because they have characteristics\/ \u201clooking for reference\u201d <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Logical conclusion <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Obtention of valid assertions from others considered accepted <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Prediction <\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\">Rendering concretion + logical conclusion in testable (falsifiable) terms. <\/span><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>It seems to me that these functions belong in the same rank, although it is not as clearly delimitted as ranks in other coding systems, e.g. Sinclair and Coulthard\u2019s (197). Provisionally calling this \u201crank X\u201d, other ranks of scientific discourse might be:<\/p>\n<p>Rank\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0X + 1:<\/p>\n<p>Obtaining data from the world\/inducing\/axiomatizing\/deducing<\/p>\n<p>Rank\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0X + 2:<\/p>\n<p>Gathering and processing data\/constructing a theory<\/p>\n<p>Rank\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0X &#8211; 1:<\/p>\n<p>Associating entity to characteristics<\/p>\n<p>Rank\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0X &#8211; 2:<\/p>\n<p>Referring<\/p>\n<p>The system could serve as a basis for syllabus design even at this intermediate stage of its development. We would have to reconsider some of the aspects of the diagramatical model that have been omitted, like phenomena, relations arid laws. It seems to me that the best way of doing so would be to produce a taxonomy of the categories in the system. We would obtain subcategories such as: Abstraction or a relation, Abstraction of a phenomenon, Logical conclusion of a relation, Prediction of a phenomenon, etc. It is interesting to note that the first term in the name of a subcategory would be a function and the rest a notion. At present, EST courses tend to concentrate their attention on either functions or notions, the FOCUS and NUCLEUS series being prototypes. A syllabus focusing on the type of subcategory suggested above (pure function + notion) would pay fair attention to both functions and notions. It would contain lessons on, say, Expression of observation of location of an object, and Prediction of (future) location of an object.<\/p>\n<p>REFERENCES<\/p>\n<p>Casta\u00f1os, F. (a) \u201cThe Discourse of Science and Teaching ESP at the Elementary Level\u201d, to appear in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Language for Specia Purposes\u2014EDUTEC, <\/span>Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana, Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>Casta\u00f1os, F. (b) \u201cConsideraciones Sobre el Estudio del Lenguaje de la Ciencia\u201d, first degree thesis (mimeographed).<\/p>\n<p>Halliday, Language Structure and Language Function, in (ed.) Lyons, J. New Horizons in Linguistics, Penguin, 1970.<\/p>\n<p>Selinker, L., Trimble, T., &amp; Trimble, L. \u201cPresuppositional Rhetorical Information in ESP Discourse\u201d, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">TESOL Quarterly, <\/span>Vol. 10, No. 3, 1976.<\/p>\n<p>Sinclair, J. &amp; Coulthard, R. Towards an Analysis of Discourse\u2014 The English Used by Teachers and Pupils, Oxford University Press, London, 197.<\/p>\n<p>Widdowson, H.G. \u201cDirections in the Teaching of Discourse\u201d, in (eds.) Corder, S.P. &amp; Roulet, R. Theoretical Linguistic Models in Applied Linguistics, AIMAV\/ DIDIER, Brussels and Paris, 1972.<\/p>\n<div>\n<hr size=\"1\" \/>\n<div>\n<p>[1] Here <span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\">I<\/span> am taking Widdowson\u2019s text \/ discourse distinction further than in Widdowson, 1972. Ellipsis is not only a feature in text, but also a discourse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>[2] The terms here are being used without precision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Casta\u00f1os, Fernando. 1977. \u201cTowards a coding system for the argumentative functions of language\u201d. English for Specific Purposes, an International Seminar. Bogot\u00e1. The British Council. 90-96.\u00a0 \u00a0(PDF) (DOC) TOWARDS A CODING SYSTEM FOR THE ARGUMENTATIVE FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE Fernando Casta\u00f1os, Universidad Nacional, Mexico A basic assumption present, implicitly or explicitly, in the development of\u00a0 English for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=874"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":880,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874\/revisions\/880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.discurso.info\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}