Academic language

Definition

Academic language contains academic-specific terms and expressions that are less frequent in everyday language use. The Academic Word List (AWL) consists of frequently occurring academic words (e.g., significant, analyze), while the Academic Formulas List (AFL) includes common multi-word expressions found in academic texts (e.g., in light of, in terms of).

Methodology

TAALES identifies and calculates indices related to academic language using lexical matching techniques against predefined lists (AWL and AFL). Both lists are frequency-based and derived from large academic corpora. Scores are normalized by text length and can include top-proportion (TP) variants.

Corpus used

  • Academic Corpus (for AWL)
  • Four Corpora: Simpson et al., 2002; BNC, 2007; Hyland, 2004 (for AFL)

Calculated indices

Academic Word List (AWL)

AWL general normed scores
  • Methodology: Frequency scores calculated across all AWL word families.
  • Index: All_AWL_Normed
AWL sublist normed scores (Non-TP)
  • Methodology: Frequencies calculated by sublist and normalized.
  • Indices: AWL_Sublist_1–10_Normed
AWL general normed scores (TP)
  • Methodology: Normalized scores focusing on high-frequency AWL items.
  • Index: All_AWL_Normed_TP
AWL sublist normed scores (TP)
  • Methodology: Calculated within top-proportion segments and normalized.
  • Indices: AWL_Sublist_1-10_Normed_TP

Academic Formulas List (AFL)

AFL normed scores
  • Methodology: Scores derived from AFL lists across four major academic corpora, categorized by mode (spoken vs. written) and type (core vs. general).
  • Indices:
    • All_AFL_Normed
    • Core_AFL_Normed
    • Spoken_AFL_Normed
    • Written_AFL_Normed

References

  • BNC Consortium. (2007). British national corpus. Oxford Text Archive Core Collection.
  • Hyland, K. (2004). Disciplinary discourses, Michigan classics ed.: Social interactions in academic writing. University of Michigan Press.
  • Simpson-Vlach, R., & Ellis, N. C. (2010). An academic formulas list: New methods in phraseology research. Applied Linguistics, 31(4), 487–512. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amp058
  • Simpson, R. C., Briggs, S. L., Ovens, J., & Swales, J. M. (2002). The Michigan corpus of academic spoken English. Ann Arbor, MI: The Regents of the University of Michigan.