Science Communication: Strategies for Effective Outreach
Text can be categorized by its communicative intention and communication situation. For example:
- Scientific papers (written by and for specialists)
- Outreach texts (targeting non-specialists)
Outreach texts can include:
- Press coverage
- Interviews
- Encyclopedia articles (texts of low level of specialization)
- Widespread education materials
- Dissemination of scientific information
- Commercial use materials
Scientists may create broadcasts with a dominant referential and metalinguistic function, explaining terms for a broader audience. This involves more general information and developing procedures of the exhibition: classifications, definitions, examples, contrast, analogy, emphasizing more relevant information. In science news, the value of research results is added (comments of researchers), presenting a narrative organization with a chronological account of events.
Linguistic Characteristics
The emitter can be an expert or a mediator. A journalist performs the work of mediation between the public and the expert. The text often uses the third person and cites other speeches, either directly or indirectly. If unconfirmed assumptions are used, verbs of opinion and periphrasis are used in reference to researchers: it is believed, is considered, should be addressed.
Speech is customized through the use of the first-person plural in narrative sequences. Subjectivity is expressed through the use of an evaluative lexicon, adjectives, and hortatory statements: “Try to ask your own report,” “As we all know,” with allusions to the receiver.
Morphosyntactic Features
Language tends to be more exhaustive. Science is established, so declarative sentences are used with verbs in the present tense for accepted wisdom. For temporary counter-narratives, the present perfect simple, compound, and imperfect tenses are used (e.g., it is believed, has been shown). Sometimes, registration can be informal or colloquial.
Lexico-Semantic Features
Terminology is crucial in outreach texts. Language is more accurate and concise and has more technical words, with rhetorical use of language, metaphor, comparison, and personification.
Key Language Traits
Objectivity
Prevalence of the referential or representative function of language and features such as the presence of the declarative sentence form and the consequent preference for verbally indicative sentences. Impersonal se and passive reflexive analytical passive, pronominal constructions are common.
Style Rating
- Preference for the abstract noun generalizing over verb.
- Using adjectives specified postponed.
- Specified relative clauses.
- Accessories prepositional name.
- Using the plural of modesty (e.g., “we could…”)
- Use of the subjunctive and the infinite value appellation.
Clarity
- Using a specific vocabulary: the technicalities of each specialty.
- Repeating words or phrases.
- Simple, very structured syntax for easy understanding, although there are times that stretch to insist on some idea.
- Using conditional subordinate clauses for hypotheses.
- Using explanatory adjectival subordinate clauses to give a clarification to its antecedent expressed.
- Use commas, clauses, dashes and parentheses and explanatory appositions specified.
- Use of the conjunction or equivalent value or identifier.
- Logical connectors, explanatory discourse computers.