摘 要

致谢语作为论文的一个重要组成部分，在人际交往中起着至关重要的作用，有利于建立良好的人际关系以及营造良好的学术氛围。然而，致谢语部分一直在论文写作中受到忽视；另一方面，二语学习者身份的研究生在撰写英语论文时往往会比以英语为母语的研究生碰到更多的困难。本研究通过对中国英语专业学生的硕士论文和英语国家学生硕士论文中的致谢语部分进行对比，旨在探究两者在语言特征层面存在的差异。研究表明，中国学生在致谢语部分经常使用非常正式或者比较常规的词汇和句子，且大部分的中国学生在句法方面缺乏灵活性。本研究的意义在于提高中国学生对致谢语部分的重视程度，增强中国学生在致谢语部分的写作能力。

关键词：致谢语；硕士论文；词法；修辞；句法；对比分析

Contents

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………....1

1.1 Research background……………………………………………………………1

1.2 Significance of the study......................................................................................2

2. Demonstration ……………...……………………………………………………2

2.1. Brief introduction to key terms………………………………………................2

2.2.Acknowledgements in master degree dissertations by Chinese students.......……………............................................................................................3

2.2.1. Analysis of morphology.....................................................................................3

2.2.2. Analysis of rhetoric…………………………………………………………...6

2.2.3. Analysis of syntax…………………………………………….........................8

2.3. Acknowledgements in master degree dissertations by native speakers of English…………………………………....................................................................10

2.3.1. Analysis of morphology………………………………………………............10

2.3.2. Analysis of rhetoric………………………………………………...................13

2.3.3. Analysis of syntax……………………………………….................................13

2.4 Comparisons of the two kinds of acknowledgements…………………..............15

2.4.1 Comparative analysis in morphology ...............................................................15

2.4.2 Comparative analysis in rhetoric ......................................................................17

2.4.3 Comparative analysis in syntax ........................................................................17

2.4.4 Implications........................................................................................................19

3. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...19

Works Cited………………………………………………………………………......21

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………....22

Analysis on acknowledgements in Dissertations of English Majors in China and Dissertations of native English speakers

1. Introduction

Research background

The mainstream language research has been based on the “sentence grammar ” for a long time. However, there is lack of systematic research on acknowledgements section. Much has been done as investigations into the acknowledgements part of thesis nowadays. However, it was not until Hyland (2003) that the linguistic study of the acknowledge part really got started. Hyland proposed the model for thesis thanks. The thesis pointed out that acknowledgements contains three moves, namely Reflecting Move, Thanking Move and Announcing Move, showing that thanking move is the main language while reflecting move and announcing move are selected items of three layer structure. In the Thanking Move, he divided it into three parts: Thanks for academic support, for provide resources, and for spiritual support. The research on the part of the study has a great influence on the non-English speaking students and the academic writing of native English speakers.

In fact, in the writing of a thesis, acknowledgements act as a symbol to show a student’s modest heart and grateful attitude. It lays a foundation for credibility and responsibility. What’s more, it implies an end to the whole paper. Although acknowledgements have so many functions, they enjoy fewer researches compared with other elements in a thesis, like abstracts or preface. Thus, it is necessary to show students the essence and function of acknowledgements. In addition, international academic communications have now become increasingly common, and more and more students have the chance to develop overseas and yet in touch with foreign academic atmosphere. Therefore, not only the language but also the culture issues should be taken into account when we write academic paper or graduation thesis. So, it will be quite meaningful studying the differences between Chinese and English in acknowledgements of dissertations.

1. Significance of the study

This research topic has some theoretical value and practical significance. Firstly, some people have done some research on the acknowledgements section of the dissertation both home and abroad. Only Hyland systematically summed up a set of models for the acknowledgements in the non-English Majors thesis. This paper makes a comparative study in text features of acknowledgements of English major thesis home and abroad. To a certain degree, it can enhance the theoretical significance of the study of acknowledgements. This study will fill the blank of the part of the text features. It conducted further research in the language features of the acknowledgements. Secondly, on the aspect of practice, it can provide a reference model for the Chinese students' writing of acknowledgements, so that they can understand how native speakers of English write the acknowledgements section of the paper. In order to integrate with the international academic level, Chinese students should not only master the writing skills of language, but also realize the differences between the two cultures reflected in the acknowledgements section， which could be regarded as the practical significance of the study.

1. Demonstration
2. Brief introduction to key terms

In linguistic study, morphology, rhetoric and syntax are three important branches (Dai, 2013). This paper focuses on the study of acknowledgements of theses in terms of the three branches.