Introductions in Locally Published Research Articles in Linguistics - Towards A Syntagmatics of Moves

Oct 15, 2026

This paper analyzes how the rhetorical organization of Research Article Introductions in linguistics is shaped in locally published Saudi university journals. It draws an analogy between traditional grammar histories and Swales’ model, arguing that studying language use across contexts can consolidate rhetorical and grammar patterns while allowing variation. Using the CARS framework, it maps core and extended move sequences in twenty-one introductions and highlights how local work aligns with or diverges from international norms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Research Article Introduction research background

Focus on local and online journals

Swales’ Create a Research Space (CARS) model

Introductions in Locally Published Research Articles in Linguistics: Towards A Syntagmatics of Moves Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics e-ISSN 2490-4198 Vol. 3, No. 1, March 2018, 5-46 © The Authors [http://www.arjals.com](http://www.arjals.com) Habib Abdesslem & Hassan Costello King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia Abstract This paper draws an analogy between the histories of traditional grammars and Swales’rhetorical model for Research Papers Introductions. It argues that though core grammar rules for the sentence and core rhetorical patterns for the Introduction have originated from description and have risen to the status of prescription, the study of language use in different contexts can consolidate the core grammar rules and the core rhetorical patterns without undermining variation and change. The present study applies Swales’ Create a Research Space Model to describe the rhetorical patterns of Research Articles Introductions in linguistics published by two University Journals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It offers representations of the sequencing of Moves in core and extended Move patterns in what we propose to call A Syntagmatics of Moves. The study reveals that rhetorical patterns, different from Swales' core pattern, are recurrent in the analysed data. This finding brings to the fore issues related to acceptability of local researchers’ work in specialised international journals, visibility of university journals published in the periphery, and abiding by international norms and standards. Keywords: Rhetoric, Genre Studies, Research Article Studies, Research Article Introduction, CARS model, A Syntagmatics of Moves, Saudi University Journals. Introduction A considerable amount of work on Research Article Introductions has been conducted for the last three decades or so (e.g. Dudley-Evans, 2000; Ozturk, 2007; Samraj, 2002; Swales, 1990; Swales & Feak, 1994; Swales, 2004) . This work has contributed to Research Article Pedagogy as more and more academics are competing to get their work published in high-quality journals and renowned publishing houses. Current work in Research Article Studies focuses in particular on comparing Articles Introductions, as a part-genre (Ayers, 1993, in DudleyEvans, 2000, p. 5)1, in one specific discipline, or across disciplines, to delineate recurrent patterns and/or to identify and account for differences and variations across Introductions. As Bhatia (1993) maintains, the study of prototypical features within the Research Article is primarily pattern seeking, but it does not imply, as far as pedagogy is concerned, pattern imposing. Johns (2003, p. 196), for example, maintains that teaching students' specific rhetorical structures and features characterising a particular research paper provides “shortcuts to the successful processing and producing of written texts.” Research Article Studies has concentrated on work published in wellestablished international journals and less so on work published in local journalsand online journals. It has focused on the novice writer who is a non-nativespeaker of English studying at a local university or a newly enrolled overseas student at a Western university (e.g. Rouissi, 2014; Swales & Feak, 1994) . Research Article Studies and Research Article Pedagogy have overlooked the 1 . We consider Introduction a part-genre, but we shall be using the term "genre" in this paper for ease of reference. contribution the analysis of local journals may provide for the local community of novice researchers and expert researchers. The present paper seeks to contribute to Research Article Studies by analysing rhetorical patterns in the Introductions of research articles published in the Saudi academic context. The paper takes what it considers core rhetorical patterns of the Research Article Introduction as its starting point. It adopts a Swalesian model and concentrates on its most recognised and recognisable Moves and Steps in

FAQs

How many introductions are analyzed and what is the data source?

The paper identifies and discusses move and step use in twenty-one introductions of linguistics articles published by two Saudi university journals: one for the Humanities and a Language and Translation journal.

Oct 15, 2026

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