An 'academic war' – A case study of confrontation in academia. Issue 57 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vassileva, Irena
• Is Part Of: Journal of English for academic purposes. Issue 57(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Academic confrontation -- Argumentation schemes -- Book review -- Topoi -- Linguistics; English language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; Academic writing -- Periodicals; 420.711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeap.2022.101115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-1585

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the case study is to look at the argumentation strategies (or schemes) used by writers belonging to two different schools of linguistics in their attempt to refute the theoretical, methodological, ideological, etc. approaches of the opponents' group in order to promote their own viewpoints instead. The corpus consists of 12 texts, containing altogether 70, 771 words - reviews and review articles of specific publications - and constitutes a chain of opinion exchanges. The research methodology is based on the modern theory of argumentation schemes with special focus on refutations as main carriers of critical argumentation and confrontation. The expression of criticism is analysed in terms of the premises it is based on and the topoi employed by the writers. The discussion of the critical argumentation schemes considers the language means employed for their realization and is supported by examples. The results demonstrate domination of epistemic argumentation, but also a high degree of usage of deontic argumentation, of personalization and thus of ethical argumentation more than in any other academic genre. A distinctive feature of the means of argumentation observed in the corpus is the employment of numerous metaphors and irony/sarcasm that often go beyond the generally accepted ethics in academia in their interpersonal pragmatic effect. Highlights: Confrontation in the social sciences is not an exception. Academic criticism is analysed employing modern rhetoric and argumentation schemes theory. The genre of the academic book review is highly personalized. Academic criticism often goes beyond the generally accepted ethics in academia.