STANCE MARKERS IN RESEARCH ARTICLES IN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES

Using criterion-based selected research articles (RAs) in HUMSS and STEM, the study investigated how the authors manifested their voices in the text and interact with the readers through stance taking strategy. Guided by the framework of Biber et al. (1999) for the stance categories and function and Vande Kopple (1997) for the metadiscourse system, results on the use of stance markers across RAs was assessed per 10,000 words. Relational content analysis revealed that epistemic stance is widely used in both HUMSS and STEM RAs. Additionally, the authors used stance markers showing epistemicity through revealing level of doubt and certainty on the message of the proposition. As writers of HUMSS RAs expressed their attitude through the use of stance markers, writers of STEM RAs preferred to reveal their evaluation of the content of the proposition. Also, writers of HUMSS RAs were more unrestricted in terms of displaying their style in writing than those of their counterparts in STEM. Furthermore, both authors of HUMSS and STEM RAs conveniently rendered their authorial voices in the text using adverbials. Lastly, HUMSS and STEM RAs were interactional for the readers through textual metadiscourse by indicating their level of commitment on the possibility and truthfulness of the message. Research writers should then be made aware of the concept of metadiscourse and stance as applied to research writing for them to increase their prominence in the academe by making their research findings, assertions, and claims acceptable and persuasive for the academic community.