The Evolution of the English Scientific Register

Dossier / Travail , 2009 , 23 Pages , Note: 1.3

Philologie Anglaise - Linguistique

Between the early stages of scientific writing in the late Middle English period and today, there have been significant changes in the grammatical properties and the rhetorical strategies of scientific discourse. These developments had an influence on the style of scientific writing, resulting in the change from a narrative towards a more argumentative style. According to this, the purpose of the present essay is to consider, from a historical stance, the evolution of linguistic features in the English scientific register. Thus, the essay takes into account several examples of linguistic features which are characteristic of late Middle English and Early Modern English scientific writing. Based on these examples, it is further the aim of my essay to provide an overview of the evolution of the English scientific register concerning its grammatical properties and rhetorical strategies up to the present day.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• The process of standardisation and vernacularisation from late Middle English to Early Modern English
  • English versus Latin
  • The role of translation
• Evolution of the English scientific register
  • Term definition: SCIENTIFIC ENGLISH
  • Contextual dimensions in the production and transmission of early scientific writing
  • Evolution of linguistic features in the organisation of scientific discourse
    • Evolution of emotive features in scientific writing
    • Evolution in the scale from learned to popular forms of scientific writing
    • Evolution in patterns of agentivity and narrativity in scientific writing
    • Evolution in the principles of botanical discourse organisation
  • Evolution of scientific prose
• Conclusion
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This essay aims to provide a historical overview of the evolution of linguistic features in the English scientific register. It examines the changes in grammatical properties and rhetorical strategies of scientific discourse from the late Middle English period to the present day. The essay focuses on the transition from a narrative to a more argumentative style in scientific writing.

• The process of standardisation and vernacularisation of English in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern English period
• The influence of Latin on the development of the English scientific register
• The evolution of linguistic features in the organisation of scientific discourse, including emotive features, the scale from learned to popular forms, patterns of agentivity and narrativity, and principles of botanical discourse organisation
• The development of scientific prose in English
• The impact of the scientific register on the overall evolution of the English language

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides a brief overview of the essay's purpose and scope, highlighting the significant changes in the grammatical properties and rhetorical strategies of scientific discourse from the late Middle English period to the present day. It emphasizes the transition from a narrative to a more argumentative style in scientific writing.

The second chapter explores the process of standardisation and vernacularisation of English from the late Middle Ages to the Early Modern English period. It discusses the influence of French and Latin on the development of the English language, particularly in the scientific register. The chapter also examines the emergence of the Chancery Standard and the Central Midland Standard, highlighting their roles in shaping the written standard of English.

The third chapter delves into the evolution of the English scientific register, focusing on the definition of "scientific English" and the contextual dimensions of early scientific writing. It examines the evolution of linguistic features in the organisation of scientific discourse, including emotive features, the scale from learned to popular forms, patterns of agentivity and narrativity, and principles of botanical discourse organisation.

The fourth chapter explores the evolution of scientific prose in English, highlighting the impact of the scientific register on the overall development of the language. It discusses the influence of Latin on English syntax and the emergence of new prepositions and conjunctions to enhance the expressiveness of the language.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include the evolution of the English scientific register, standardisation and vernacularisation, linguistic features, rhetorical strategies, scientific discourse, late Middle English, Early Modern English, and the influence of Latin on English.

• Université: University of Duisburg-Essen
• Cours: The Evolution of English Registers
• Note: 1.3
• Auteur: Hildegard Schnell (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2009
• Pages: 23
• N° de catalogue: V128944
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640350629
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640506255
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Evolution, English, Scientific, Register