WAN LIU (NORTHWESTERN POLYTECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)

INTERDISCIPLINARY INSIGHTS INTO ACADEMIC DISCOURSE THROUGH WITTGENSTEIN'S LANGUAGE GAME THEORY : LINGUISTICS, DISCOURSE ANALYSIS, AND RELATED AREAS

Based on Wittgenstein’s “language game theory”, this paper explores the features and methods of academic discourse research. By elucidating the principles of Wittgenstein's framework, the study aims to enhance the comprehension of the essence of academic discourse. The paper begins with exposing the foundational concepts and core tenets of Wittgenstein’s language game theory, subsequently identifying the distinctive features that characterize academic discourse. Building on this, the discourse proceeds to the pedagogical implications of Wittgenstein's theory for studying academic language, revealing how the theory can illuminate the multifaceted dimensions of academic interaction. The findings suggest that interdisciplinary approaches can be adopted to examine and compare academic discourse across various fields; highlighting the significance of studying discourse at both synchronic and diachronic levels. The analysis underscores the need to explore pragmatic qualities and the process of meaning-making within specific contextual frameworks, while also focusing on shared features and accepted academic conventions. A grounded approach in actual linguistic specimens is advocated, facilitating a deeper investigation into the rules and norms governing academic discourse. This study sheds some light on academic discourse studies to unlock the complexity and richness of scholarly exchange, contributing to an inclusive academic conversation that aligns with empirical evidence and demonstrates an understanding of Wittgenstein's philosophical contributions.

Wan Liu is a postgraduate student at the School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China. Her research interest is academic discourse.