2024年3月14日发(作者：)

US-China Foreign Language, May 2019, Vol. 17, No. 5, 211-218

doi:10.17265/1539-8080/2019.05.002

D

DAVID PUBLISHING

Genre Analysis of English and Chinese Research Articles in

Clinical Medicine

ZHONG Yingru, WANG Yan

*

Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

We selected 30 complete research articles (RAs) in clinical medicine written by native speakers both from English

and Chinese journals, and made a detailed comparative genre analysis of them with reference to Swales’ model of

genre analysis and Nwogu’s schema. Our results showed that English and Chinese RAs in clinical medicine shared

generally a similar generic structure of 11 moves as well as present some obvious differences in the frequency,

sequence, and length of these moves. Our findings will provide some practical guidance for Chinese medical

workers in reading and writing medical RA.

Keywords: move, genre analysis, research articles, clinical medicine

Introduction

The medical research article (RA) has always been one of the most important indicators for evaluating

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biomedical achievements and talents in the world (Xu & Lin, 2011). Medical RA is a specific genre with

constrained choice of content and style (Swales, 1990), namely, “Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion”,

the traditional IMRD sections (Nwogu, 1997). There have been some studies on the generic structures of medical

RAs both in western countries and China. Salager-Meyer (1994) conducted a thorough survey of 15 research

papers in medical English written discourse to determine how the communicative purpose of the different

rhetorical sections influences the frequency and category distribution of hedges used in each section. Williams

(2010) examined first-person verbs use in the methods sections of English and Spanish medical research articles

to figure out the cultural differences in academic discourse. Zhao and Wu (2009) made a comparative analysis of

the use of active voice and passive voice in Chinese and English medical research articles. He (2010) investigated

the differences and similarities between the method section of research articles written in English and those

written in Chinese in medical field. Qiu (2015) analyzed the frequency, types, and distribution of hedges in

English abstracts of Chinese and American medical journals. However, the previous studies mainly focus on

particular characteristics or certain sections of a medical RA, while only few studies discuss its generic structure.

Acknowledgements: Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (No.

15SKG024).

ZHONG Yingru, Master, Foreign Language College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

*

WANG Yan, Corresponding Author, Master, Professor, Foreign Language College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing,

China.

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GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

We aimed at elucidating the generic structures of medical RAs both in Chinese and English, as well as

exploring the similarities and differences between them and finding out the possible factors that lead to these

similarities and differences.

Methods

Theoretical Framework

Genre is a class of communicative events, the members of which share some set of communicative purposes

(Swales, 1990). In genre analysis of English for specific purpose (ESP), the recognition of “move” and “step” is

of great importance, and ESP genre analysis began with Swales’ pioneering work (1981; 1990) on the

introduction section of RAs. He provided a Four-Move Model (establishing field-summarizing previous

research-preparing for present research-introducing present research) to analyze RA introductions (1981), and

revised it into a three-move analysis of CARS (Create A Research Space) model (1990). The texts are described

as being made up of moves and each move further contains one or more steps characterized by some linguistic

features.

The use of Swales’ (1990) Move-Step Model of genre analysis has achieved a great success in the analysis

of academic research articles in various disciplines. Nwogu (1997) explored the schematic structure of

experimental medical RA using Swales’ (1981; 1990) Genre-Analysis Model, and identified an 11-move schema,

of which nine were found to be normally required and two optional. Therefore, the present study adopted Swales’

(1990) Move-Step analysis and Nwogu’s (1997) schema as reference to make a comparative genre analysis of

English and Chinese RAs in clinical medicine.

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Data Collection

We selected journals based on the principles of representativity, reputation, accessibility, and timeliness by

referring to Nwogu’s (1997) sampling approach. Representativity refers to that all RAs were in clinical medicine

and written by native speakers; reputation refers to that all the selected English journals ranked among the top in

biomedical journals impact factor rankings of 2015, while all the selected Chinese journals were journals of

Chinese Medical Association; accessibility refers to that the full text was available for downloading; timeliness

refers to that the text was published in the last five years.

Then we established the two corpora of 30 complete RAs by random sampling, one including 15 RAs

selected from The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical

Association (JAMA), and The British Medical Journal (BMJ), written by native English researchers, while

another one including 15 RAs selected from Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, Chinese Journal of Surgery,

Chinese Journal of Cardiology, Chinese Medical Journal, and Chinese Journal of Oncology, written by Chinese

researchers.

Data Analysis

we carried out the study according to the following procedures: (1) read the full text to get a general

understanding of the RA; (2) checked each section of the RA and identified the moves in each section in light of

Swales’ (1990) CARS model and Nwogu’s (1997) method of identifying sections; (3) recorded the distribution

and frequency of moves in both corpora; (4) established an English model and a Chinese model for each section

GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

213

in both corpora; (5) summarized the similarities and differences (if any) in the generic structures between the two

corpora; (6) discussed the possible reasons that may cause the similarities and differences in each section between

the two corpora. The moves and signal markers for these moves or steps were counted and recorded manually,

and the results were calculated. In order to reduce the influence of subjectivity as much as possible, we repeated

and checked analyses (≥ 3 times), and consulted the medical experts in case of any difficult to identify move for

we work in a medical university where we can easily reach for help.

Results and Discussion

The Distribution of Moves in English and Chinese RAs

The present study revealed that both English and Chinese medical RAs consist of 11 common moves (see

Table 1), and each move has its own linguistic features and signal markers.

Table 1

Common Moves and Their Functions

Move 1: presenting background information

Introduction Move 2: reviewing related researches

Move 3: announcing present research

Methods Move 4: clarifying study design

Move 5: performing data analysis

Move 6: reporting objective results

Results Move 7: highlighting overall outcome

Move 8: explaining main findings

Move 9: reviewing previous researches

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Discussion Move 10: indicating limitations

Move 11: stating conclusions

The 11 moves were found to occur with varying degrees of regularity in English and Chinese RAs. As

seen in Figure 1, in English RAs, nine of the 11 moves (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11) occurred in all the 15 texts,

and Move 1 occurred in all but one text, while Move 9 occurred less frequently in texts. In Chinese RAs, eight

of the 11 moves (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11) occurred in all the 15 texts, and Move 3 occurred in all but one text, while

Moves 7 and 10 occurred less frequently in texts.

In the section of introduction, Move 2 (reviewing related researches) occurred in all the English and Chinese

RAs (100.00%), and Move 1 (presenting background information) occurred in 14 English RAs (93.33%) and 15

Chinese RAs (100.00%), while Move 3 (announcing present research) occurred in 15 English RAs (100.00%)

and 14 Chinese RAs (93.33%). Moves in the section of methods and results (clarifying study design, performing

data analysis, and reporting objective results) occurred in all the English and Chinese RAs (100.00%). In the

section of discussion, Moves 8 (explaining main findings) and 11 (stating conclusions) occurred in all the English

and Chinese RAs (100%); Move 7 (highlighting overall outcome) occurred in 15 English RAs (100.00%) and 13

Chinese RAs (86.67%); Move 9 (reviewing previous researches) occurred in 10 English RAs (66.67%) and 15

Chinese RAs (100.00%); Move 10 (indicating limitations) occurred in 15 English RAs (100.00%) and 8 Chinese

RAs (53.33%) (see Figure 1).

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GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

Figure 1. Frequency counts of moves in the two corpora.

The section of introduction.

Presenting background information (Move 1). Presenting background information was the first move in

almost all the involved RAs (except for one English RA). At the very beginning of a RA, some necessary

background information was introduced for the topic of present study to prepare the readers for better

understanding. In English RAs, it was often written in the simple present tense. The objective fact was stated with

the use of verb root (such as “is”, “are”, “是”, “为”, etc.), adverbs (such as “often”, “usually”, “一般”, “常见的”,

etc.), and numbers (fractions, percentages, 分数, 百分比, etc.) to show generality, regularity, and truthfulness.

Example 1: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and complications in patients with Type 2

diabetes.

Example 2:

2

型糖尿病

(T2DM)

患病率近

10

年来在世界范围内显著升高。

2007-2008

年的流行病学调查，我国

20

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岁以上成年人的糖尿病患病率为

9.7%

，总数达

9

，

240

万，据推算

95%

以上为

T2DM

患者。

Reviewing related researches (Move 2). Reviewing some representative researches is for the purpose of

showing existing achievements in the research field and suggesting the limitations in previous researches, thus

inspiring the present research motivation. In English RAs, it was often written in the present perfect tense or

past tense, and the common signal markers were some summarizing statements, such as several large trials have

; ...has been the aim of many ; four trials failed ; and some transitional

conjunctions, such as however; unfortunately; despite, etc. In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were

as follows: 有文献报道; 有研究显示; 均有报道; 然而; 但……; 尚未.

Example 3: Despite this evidence and expert , these findings have not been incorporated into

Example 4:

一些研究显示……，但大多研究表明……。这项手术的安全性和有效性如何，患者的长期预后如

何，影响长期预后的因素有哪些，国内尚未见大规模的临床研究。

Announcing present research (Move 3). This was the most important part of the introduction, where the

authors focus on the present study by announcing its purpose, and sometimes a brief description of study design

as well. In English RAs, it was often written in the simple past tense, and the common signal markers were as

follows: the goal/objective of this study ; therefore, , etc. In Chinese RAs, the common

signal markers were as follows: 因此; 本研究; 我们; 本文.

GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

215

Example 5: On the basis of these preclinical data, The primary objectives were to

Secondary objectives were an exploratory objective was added

Example 6:

本研究中，我们分析了……，研究了……，探讨……，为……提供理论依据。

The section of methods.

Clarifying study design (Move 4). This was a very huge move composed of three steps: research subject

(subjects and materials), research protocol (methods and evaluation), and outcomes. In different journals, the

content of this move could be presented briefly or detailedly, and the structure of this move could be one

paragraph or several paragraphs with several subtitles. For example, the common subtitles in NEJM included

“study/trial design”, “patients/participants”, “procedures”, and “outcomes”, while in The Lancet, the common

subtitles were “participants”, “randomization and masking”, “procedures”, and “outcomes”. Because of the

above mentioned contents are embodied in different structures or subtitles, the author summarized them as one

move. In English RAs, it was written in the simple past tense, and the common signal markers were as follows:

patients were eligible ; key inclusion ; the exclusion ; the

primary/secondary , etc. In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were as follows:

选取……; 纳入标准; 排除标准; 主要终点为……

Example 7: The ATACAS trial was a multicenter, double-blind trial with a 2-by-2

Eligible participants included adults The primary outcome of the The prespecified

secondary

Example 8:

回顾分析

2012

年

4

月

-2015

年

7

月于北京大学口腔医院就诊的

24

例儿童口腔颌面

-

头颈部软组织肉瘤患

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儿……纳入标准：……排除标准：……

活检明确病理学诊断，根据疾病类型及病变部位制定治疗方案……

Performing data analysis (Move 5). Data analysis mainly referred to the statistical analysis, involving the

specific statistical methods, measuring apparatus, and the modification for statistics, etc., and some research

conducted the sensitivity analysis as well. In English RAs, it was often written in the simple past tense, and the

most common signal marker was: “...was/were performed/compared/summarized/analyzed with the ”.

In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were as follows: 使用……对数据进行分析; 计量资料用……

表示; 计数资料用……表示; 组间比较采用……

Example 9: We used χ2 tests to compare demographic factors, the prevalence of We

analysed time from myocardial infarction using Cox proportional hazards models to produce

adjusted

Example 10:

使用

SPSS21.0

统计学软件对数据进行分析。正态分布的计量资料用

±

表示，组间比较采用配对

t

检验，

非正态分布的计量资料用

M(Q

R

)

表示，组间比较采用秩和检验……

The section of results. Move 6, reporting objective results, was also a big move in the results section,

which stated the results of all the involved items without any subjective comments, and could be processed in

chronological order (e.g.: at ; at ) or in the order of importance (e.g.: first primary outcome

and secondly other outcomes). Generally speaking, in English RAs, the results were often described in the simple

past tense, although tables and figures were presented in the simple present tense with the most common signal

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GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

markers as “table/figure shows/summarises”. This move often involved the comparison between the

experimental group and the control group, with the common signal markers as follows: were similar in; no

difference in; versus; significantly increased/decreased; was greater than; 高于; 低于; 下降; 上升;

有/无统计学意义.

Example 11: Figure 1 shows patient disposition throughout the study. ...was However, more

patients han in the placebo group. ...was very high (99%) in both groups.

……在治疗前后有差异（

P < 0.05

）；

两两比较结果显示，……明显上升（

P

值均

< 0.05

）；……变化差异无统计学意义（表

1

、

2

）……

The section of discussion.

Highlighting overall outcome (Move 7). This move served to answer the proposition in the section of

introduction by reporting the overall outcome of the research with a brief interpretation of the outcome. In

English RAs, it was often written in the simple past tense, and the common signal markers were as follows: in

this study, ; the study ; in this trial, we confirmed our primary ,

etc. In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were as follows: 本研究显示……; 可见……; 研究发现……

Example 13: The addition of Infliximab to initial therapy did not affect treatment resistance.

Example 14:

Example 12:

治疗前后免疫功能变化：

可见，改良

Ponticelli

方案治疗我国肾病综合征、

IMN

患者的临床疗效并不亚于传统的两种治疗方案。

Explaining main findings (Move 8). This was the most detailed move in the discussion section, which

further involved the explanation and interpretation for the study results and data although they might have been

presented in Move 6, thus validating the research conclusion. In English RAs, the common signal markers were

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as follows: the major novel ; there was also a significant ; in particular, , etc.

While in Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were as follows: 本研究结果也表明……;

本研究还显示……; 本研究还发现……

Example 15: Patients had less cardiovascular comorbidity and

Patients with frequent exacerbations have more symptoms and more dyspnea than those with infrequent

exacerbations.

Example 16:

本研究结果也表明，与

2D-RT

比较，

3D-CRT

在局部控制、远处转移和

OS

上有显著的优势

本研究单因素分析也显示……多因素分析显示……

……

Reviewing previous researches (Move 9). Reviewing previous researches is aimed to find consistent or

inconsistent results. The consistent results would further explain and support the present study, thus verifying

its reliability, while inconsistent results required the reasonable defense, which may just create the newness of

this study. In English RAs, it was often written in the simple past tense when purely reviewing a particular

research, with the common signal markers as follows: in , the other ; the first case

was published in 2014; an from 2001 to , etc. While it was often written

in the simple present tense when the comment on the comparison between the present study and previous

studies was made, and the common signal markers were as follows: ...is ; ...is similar

to...; ...are not entirely consistent with previous reports, etc. In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers were

as follows: 有研究显示; XX等报道了……; 有研究表明……; 与……结果类似.

GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

Example 17: In The other

Example 18:

217

一项全部纳入中国

NSCLC

患者的Ⅳ期临床研究显示……一些回顾性研究也显示了…

一项全部纳入中国

NSCLC

患者的Ⅳ期临床研究显示……一些回顾性研究也显示了…

Shen

等的回顾性研究显示……

…

…

Indicating limitations (Move 10). Any RA would have some limitations although the study is reliable on

the whole, such as small sample size as a common one in clinical study. In English RAs, both the present and

past tenses could be seen, and the common signal markers were as follows: this study also ; a

number of limitations are worthy of mention; the major limitation of our , etc. In Chinese RAs, the

common signal markers were as follows: 样本量较少; 一定的局限性; 不足之处在于……

Example 19: However, several limitations are also present. And

Example 20:

本研究样本量小，随访期短，结论尚需要进一步研究。

Stating conclusions (Move 11). Stating conclusions should be the finishing move of whole article. Except

for restating the results, as well as emphasizing the importance of this study, it would also point out the

direction for the further research. In English RAs, both the present and past tenses were workable, and the

common signal markers were as follows: in conclusion, our results ; in summary, we found no

; the results have important , etc. In Chinese RAs, the common signal markers

were as follows: 综上所述; 总之; 尚需要……

Example 21: In conclusion, our results Our data also

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Example 22:

综上所述……均可达到较为满意的疗效。

Comparison of the Employment of Moves

The findings of this study revealed that the English and Chinese medical RAs in clinical medicine shared

generally a similar generic structure of 11 schematic units or moves, while there were still some differences in the

employment of these moves between the two corpora.

Move 5: performing data analysis. Move 5 was more detailed in English RAs than in the Chinese

counterparts, and in English RAs, it often involved quite a few paragraphs, but in most Chinese RAs, it was only

in one paragraph. This phenomenon may be explained by the research practices in different cultures. Western

culture has been developed in a long history of natural sciences, where quantitative method in study design is

emphasized, while the Chinese culture, with humanities and arts oriented, has traditionally preferred the

qualitative method. Therefore, Chinese authors should pay much attention to this discrepancy when they submit

papers to international journals.

Move 9: reviewing previous researches. Move 9 was more frequently used and much longer in Chinese

RAs than in the English counterparts, and Chinese authors were inclined to use abundant related studies to

explain and support their researches. These differences can be explained from the perspective of individualism

and collectivism. One of the mainstream values in western culture is “individualism”, an emphasis on personal

space, freedom, creativity, self-celebration, and personal judgements. However, Chinese culture is developed in a

long history of collectivism emphasizing shared traditions and interests and maintaining face, so the Chinese

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GENRE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESEARCH ARTICLES

authors tend to gain support and agreement from others’ researches for their own interests.

Move 10: indicating limitations. Move 10 occurred more often and was more detailed in English RAs than

in the Chinese counterparts, and English authors would elaborate the limitations in more detail, as shown in

Example 19. This phenomenon is likewise also ascribed to the influence of individualism and collectivism. In

English RAs, the authors would elaborate the limitations in details, hoping to call attention for further research

or inspire other researchers, but this behavior is not favorable in traditional Chinese society, where Chinese

authors would not like to admit their imperfections in public because they are afraid of losing face or failed

acceptance.

Conclusion

The present study shows that the English and Chinese RAs in clinical medicine share generally a similar

generic structure of eleven moves, and present some obvious differences in the employment of moves as well.

Most of the similarities in structural format can be explained from the perspective of communicative purposes

of the same genre, whereas the differences have largely resulted from the discrepancies in cultural factors.

The present research expands the application of move-step analysis to the comparative genre analysis of

the English and Chinese RAs in clinical medicine, thus filling in a gap in the preceding academic researches.

And the findings of the present study would have some practical guidance for Chinese medical workers, ESP

teachers, as well as medical translators.

References

He, L. L. (2010). Comparative analysis of methods section in English and Chinese medical academic papers. Chongqing:

All Rights Reserved.

Chongqing University.

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and Technical Periodicals, 26, 1212-1216.

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Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Salager-Meyer, F. (1994). Hedges and textual communicative function in medical English written discourse. English for Specific

Purposes, 13, 149-170.

Williams, I. A. (2010). Cultural differences in academic discourse: Evidence from first-person verb use in the methods sections of

medical research articles. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 15, 214-239.

Xu, J., & Lin, L. X. (2011). Genre analysis of scientific research articles between Chinese and English. Science and Publication, 9,

91-94.

Zhou, L. (2003). Hot issues in biomedical study and their implications. World Scientific Research and Development, 3, 54-56.

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