Full Description
In Presented Discourse in Popular Science, Olga A. Pilkington explores the forms and functions of the voices of scientists in books written for non-professionals. This study confirms the importance of considering presentation of discourse outside of literary fiction: popular science uses presented discourse in ways uncommon for fiction yet not conventional for non-fiction either.
This analysis is an acknowledgement of the social consequences of popularization. Discourse presentation of scientists reconstructs the world of the scientific community as a human space but also projects back into it an image of the scientist the public wants to see. At the same time, Pilkington's findings strengthen the view of popularization that rejects the notion of a strict divide between professional and popular science.
Contents
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
1 Introduction: Popular Science, Overview of the Genre
Why Popular Science is Important and How It Shapes the Reader's Perception of the Scientific Community
History of Popular Science
A Genre with an Agenda
Conclusion
2 Theoretical Perspectives
Presented Discourse: An Overview of Analytical Approaches
Fictionality: Questions about Definition
The Importance of Emotionality in Popular Science
Dramatization, Emotionality, and Professional Science
Conclusion
3 Analytical Background, Framework, Texts, and Methods
Introduction
General Role of Discourse Presentation in Fiction and Non-fiction
The Framework for Presented Discourse Analysis of the Popular Science Corpus
Corpus Selection and Methodology
Comparison of Frequency Information for the Popular Science Corpus with the Semino and Short Findings
Conclusion
4 Dramatization in the Narratives of Discovery: The Roles of Communicated Discourse and Thought Presentation
Introduction
Dramatization in Presented Discourse: It is Not Just (F)DS
Dramatization through IS and FIS: Emotionality and Dialogue
Conclusion
5 Beyond Dramatization
Introduction
Hypotheses and Discoveries: Presentation of Thought is Not so Private
Non-dramatizing Communicated Discourse: Explanation of Science
Conclusion
6 Presented Discourse outside the Narratives of Discovery
Introduction
Celebratory Discourse
Speech Presentation versus Writing Presentation: Another Look
Confirming the Fusion of Non-fiction and Fiction-Like Qualities of Presented Discourse in Popular Science
The Fictionalized Reader in Popular Science
Conclusion
7 Conclusion
The Role of Presented Discourse in the Formation of Positive Bias
Appendix: Practical Applications of Research Findings
Bibliography
Index
