Linguistic Features of Scientific and Technical Discourse

The specialized language used in scientific and technical texts is considered a subcode of a natural language, primarily utilized for the transmission of knowledge. This subcode is characterized by its focus on the referential function and denotation, emphasizing clarity, precision, and conciseness.

To achieve universality of terms, standards bodies have established specific terminology. Furthermore, this specialized communication often incorporates non-linguistic signs.

Core Objectives and Communicative Elements

The main objective of scientific and technical texts is to report on the activity and progress within science and technology. The specific characteristics of this discourse are conditioned by several key elements:

• Communicative Goal: The primary purpose is to transmit factual information.
• Communicative Situation: This determines the degree of specialization required in the language used.
• Transmitter and Receiver: The sender is typically specialized, while the receiver may be a specialist or the general public.
• Topic: The subject matter is strictly limited to the proper field of the specialty code.
• Language Structure: Consists of both general language and the specialty subcode.
• Channel: Communication can occur via various media, including air, paper, or audiovisual formats.

Analyzing Scientific-Technical Discourse

Scientific-technical discourse inherently reflects the objectivity and validity of science. Its structure aims to avoid expressive elements, references to the issuer, the presence of the receptor, and resources of persuasion.

Morphosyntactic Features of Technical Texts

Among the morphosyntactic features characteristic of this type of text, the following are prominent:

• Sentence Structure: Predominantly declarative sentences, alongside frequent use of interrogative, impersonal, and reflexive passive constructions.
• Nominalization: There is a strong preference for nominalization (using nouns instead of verbs to name actions).
• Verb Tenses and Person:
  • Verb tenses used are primarily the indicative, the timeless present, and the conditional.
  • The third person dominates to establish impersonality, though the first person plural is also used.
• Adjectives and Appositions: Frequent use of descriptive adjectives with specified value, adjectival subordinate clauses, specifying explanatory clauses, and appositions.

Lexical and Semantic Characteristics

One of the most defining features of scientific and technical language is its specific terminology, known as technicalities. These are expressions that denote specific notions within a particular area of knowledge.

Due to its denotative nature, scientific language relies on monosemy—words defined by a single reference—to ensure precision.

Types of Technical Terminology

A variety of techniques are used to form specialized vocabulary, including:

• Words adopted from ordinary language.
• Latinisms (words derived from Latin).
• Words formed from Greek and Latin roots.
• Neologisms (newly coined words).
• Specialized derivative suffixes.
• Eponyms (terms derived from proper names).
• Acronyms and abbreviations.

Other Lexical Phenomena

At the lexical-semantic level, scientific-technical language also exhibits the following phenomena:

• Hyperonymy and Hyponymy (hierarchical relations).
• Synonymy (though often restricted to avoid ambiguity).
• Antonymy.
• Rhetorical figures.

Common Textual Modalities

Scientific and technical texts employ various textual modalities to meet diverse communication needs. The most common modalities include:

• Description.
• Explanation (Exposition).
• Explanation combined with argumentation.
• Narration (often used for reporting procedures or historical context).