Science and language: integrating discourse and context in the analysis of the Conclusions of experimental scientific articles of The Oswaldo Cruz Institute Memories (1909-1919 and 1980-1989)

Abstract

The Conclusions of the experimental scientific articles from a traditional Brazilian journal were analyzed considering the 1909-19 and 1980-89 periods. The analysis integrated language and context by revealing types of arguments, rhetorical moves and linguistic traits. The findings were the change from a linear and less rhetorically elaborated discourse in the first period to a highly rhetorical density and cyclicity in the second period. They were correlated with the change from a cohesive, small and prestigious community into a big community, pressured to adapt to the parameters of the big science, with no governmental support. The contributions to the genre analysis, studies of science and teaching for academic purposes are discussed.