Pragmalinguistic Parameters of Article Titles in English and Russian Scientific Discourse: Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The article conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of the structural, semantic, and pragmatic features of scientific titles within Russian and English discourses. The relevance of the research stems from the need to identify modern trends in compiling scientific metatext across various linguistic and cultural communities, aiming to discover and implement the most efficient methods of encoding and disseminating scientific knowledge. The resultant findings could significantly enhance the overall quality of scientific work. The empirical basis for this study consists of article titles pertaining to linguistic matters, with Scopus and Web of Science editions providing the English examples, while the Russian equivalents are sourced from journals registered in the State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles List. The criteria for the comparative analysis of the titles include a) qualitative and quantitative indicators of the lexical composition of the titles; b) methods of their syntactic organization; c) spectrum of the semantic dominants; d) design of the functional paradigm; e) degree and nature of expressiveness. Through this analysis, the authors identify several significant differences that shape the unique pragmatics of the aforementioned titles within their respective scientific domains. Among the most pertinent differences are the number and relative significance of the pragmatic functions carried out, giving insight into the linguistic mechanisms utilized at all textual organization levels.

Keywords

• scientific discourse
• title
• scopus
• web of science
• state commission for academic degrees and titles list
• language parameters
• functional paradigm
• expressive potential
• pragmatic effect