Register variation in understudied academic contexts

Abstract

A major focus of register research has been language variation in academic discourse. These studies describe patterns of language use in spoken and written academic texts. Although there have been numerous studies of this type, most have focused on academic registers in English and on descriptions of published academic registers (e.g. textbooks, research articles, and abstracts). Much less work has been caried out on academic registers in other languages or unpublished academic registers. This special issue presents five studies describing the language patterns of understudied academic discourse in English (learners’ writing and statutory law), as well as descriptions of published academic registers in languages other than English (Russian, Portuguese, and Arabic). We hope that the papers in this special issue will pave the way for future research in other understudied academic contexts.