Exploring Nominalization Functions in Scientific Textbooks from Physics and Applied Linguistics

Given the importance of disciplinary specificity in deploying nominalization as a rhetorical resource in scientific discourse and the dearth of studies investigating the potential differences in the functionality of nominalizations in scientific textbooks, the current study aimed at exploring the extent to which nominalization is realized across two disciplines. To this end, in light of Halliday’s (1978, 1994, 2004a) Systemic Functional Linguistics theory, eight academic textbooks from Physics and Applied Linguistics were analyzed to identify the nominal patterns and expressions. Findings suggested the similarity of the first three most prevalent patterns in the sample textbooks; however, the distribution of these patterns marked disciplinary distinctions. That is, in Physics textbooks, more complex, lexically dense style of writing is used through deploying a pattern where nominals are followed by strings of prepositional phrases. In addition, Physics academic writers express particularity through using nominals preceded by classifiers. Writers in Applied Linguistics, on the other hand, were found to manifest greater tendency toward conveying generality through using a pattern where nominals are realized with few pre/post modifiers.