Consideraciones sobre el discurso cientifico y la definición

Abstract

Attempts made by Selinker; Tod and Trimble (1976); and Widdowson (1978) to characterize the definition appear to be contradictory. A discussion of these attempts indicates a need to study the main functions of scientific discourse.
After proposing three main functions; (argumentation; facilitation; judgement) the problem of the definition is reconsidered. It is shown that the characterizations given to the definition by different authors correspond to definitions which fulfill different functions. A basic framework is provided in terms of an operational definition of the “definition”.
Lastly; the information obtained is applied in the analysis of a piece of discourse taking into account the writers’ intentions as well as possible reading strategies of the students.