Cultural Influences and Transfer Issues across L1 and L2 Argumentative writing: a Case of Iranian Educational-Cultural Context

تعداد143 صفحه در فایل word

Department of English Language and Literature

M.A. 

Cultural Influences and Transfer Issues across L1 and L2 Argumentative writing: a Case of Iranian Educational-Cultural Context

Abstract

Studies regarding written discourse suggest that what is represented as an effective argumentation is culturally driven and L1 specific rhetorical or argument patterns may influence written argumentation in a second language. The present study, thus, explores the argument preferences of people from the same cultural background across their L1 and L2 texts within a educational-cultural framework. First, participants were given a survey regarding their previous writing instruction that served as the “small cultural context” to contextualize the findings; then, they wrote argumentative essays both in their L1 and L2. The texts were analyzed mainly in terms of argument structures based on Toulmin’s (1958) model of reasoning, Hinkel’s (1997; 2005) indirectness devices, Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals, and language style. Then, stimulated recall interviews were conducted to learn the reasons behind the participants’ use of detected patterns and their transfer. The results indicate common patterns used in both similar and dissimilar ways across L1 and L2, influenced by cultural as well as various other factors.

Keywords: Contrastive rhetoric, Argumentative writing, Transfer, Cultural writing patterns, Second language writing