Text Linguistics Research as a Framework for ELT at Tertiary Level

Abstract

The paper deals with the structure of written scientific-technical text in the field of civil engineering in the context of English language teaching, in particular development of reading skills at tertiary level. Special emphasis is put on three main variables of textual structure: 1) cohesion; 2) texture; 3) coherence. These features of textual structure are closely interconnected. The paper explores the notion of cohesion. The focus is on lexical cohesion and means of its expression( e.g. repetition of lexical items, word and contextual synonyms, pronoun substitutions, hyperonyms and hyponyms). Cohesive devices are classified and exemplified. Various approaches to textual analysis are highlighted, in particular a transformational method of analysis. Transformations are analyzed on the level of type constructions and illustrated by a selection of examples based on the scientific-technical discourse corpus. Transformational analysis is aimed at revealing implicit predicates in order to extend a verbal-predicate base of the text. Benefits of using a linguistic framework and its practical application in the analysis of scientific-technical texts are described. Textual analysis can be a valuable tool for English language teaching/learning, in particular acquisition of reading skills at tertiary level. In addition, the study results can be used in delivering a course of lectures on text linguistics in higher education institutions