El discurso explicativo en la divulgación científica

Abstract

Firstly; this paper reviews the characteristic procedures of explanation; based on previous studies (Adam; 2001; Borel; 1981; Grize 1981 and 1990); as well as proposals regarding paradigms of definition and designation (Mortureux; 1993; Moirand; 1996-1997). Secondly; we offer the results of an analysis carried out on a corpus of six articles on clonation which appeared in 1997-1998; in six different magazines; two of which represent institutional popularization; two commercial popularization and two of which appeared in general interest magazines. Finally; we show that explanation can be present not only in explicative sequences; but also in explicative reformulations and that the incidence of explicative sequences; as well as definitional and designational paradigms in a text; is revelatory of the degree of popularization as well as pedagogic intent.