Small-format texts in english scientific discourse: semantic and structural features of titles in SCOPUS and Web of Science linguistic articles

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the structural and semantic parameters of the titles of English scientific articles related to the sphere of linguistics. The aforesaid titles are treated as secondary small-format texts which render the content of the original article in the most compressed form. It is assumed that these texts comply with the general norms of the scientific discourse, but at the same time they are characterized by a specific functional paradigm as well as a set of specific structural and semantic features. The research is based on the titles of Scopus and Web of Science articles published online in 2020–2021 and devoted to linguistic issues. With the help of discourse analysis supported by the method of quantification, it is revealed that the ontological component, namely, the obligatory reflection of the subject matter of the research, makes the core of the semantic structure of the titles. Peripheral position is occupied by the methodological aspect of the research, whereas the axiological aspect, that is the assessment of the knowledge gained, is not systematically reflected. On the level of linguistic markers, the following typical features are traced: the usage of general academic vocabulary, terms, abbreviations, non-predicative syntactic constructions, two-part structures separated by a colon. Sporadically presented features include evaluative lexical units, interrogative and exclamatory constructions, quotations, complete two-member sentences. Expressive means of different levels are registered in 20 % of the analyzed texts. The data obtained allow to make an assumption concerning the number and the ratio of the constituent elements within the functional paradigm of the texts studied. Besides, a set of practical recommendations for making titles of linguistic articles is suggested.