DEXIS IN SCIENTIFIC TEXTS

Аннотация

This article discusses the concept of dexis in scientific texts. Dexis, also known as deixis, refers to words and phrases that point to time, place, or person, and its use is different in scientific writing compared to spoken or informal language. In scientific texts, the use of dexis is more limited and often carefully controlled. However, some deictic expressions are still used to help guide readers through arguments, data, and interpretations. This paper shows how dexis works in scientific texts and why it matters for clarity and academic tone. It also includes examples and analysis from recent scientific articles. The goal is to help students and young researchers understand the role of dexis and improve their academic writing skills. Key words: Dexis, deixis, scientific writing, academic style, discourse analysis, reference in texts. Dexis, or deixis, is a linguistic term that means pointing through language. It includes words like “this,” “that,” “here,” “there,” “now,” and “then,” and personal pronouns like “I,” “you,” “we.” In everyday conversation, these words are used often and naturally, because the speaker and listener share the same situation and context. However, in scientific texts, the use of dexis becomes more complicated. Scientific writing tries to be clear, objective, and formal. For this reason, the use of personal and situational references is usually reduced or changed. In general, scientific texts avoid first-person pronouns like “I” or “we,” especially in some disciplines such as physics or chemistry, because the focus is on the research, not the researcher. But in some fields like social sciences or humanities, using “we” is more accepted, especially when referring to the research team or the academic community. According to Hyland (2002), self-mention is a way of showing responsibility and guiding the reader through the argument. This is one example of how dexis can have a role even in formal academic texts. Spatial and temporal dexis are also used in scientific writing, but in different ways than in casual language. For example, the word “this” is common in academic writing to refer to figures, tables, or previous statements. A sentence like “This result supports the hypothesis” uses “this” to point back to specific data or analysis. Without deictic words like “this” or “these,” it would be harder for readers to follow the logical flow of information. However, it is important to use them carefully, so their reference is always clear. According to Hinkel (2004), unclear use of deictic terms is a common problem for non-native speakers in academic writing. In a study by Salager-Meyer (1994), she found that authors of scientific articles use deictic expressions to create cohesion and coherence in the text. For example, “as shown above” or “in the previous section” are ways to guide the reader through the structure of the paper. These expressions are both deictic and metadiscursive, because they refer to the text itself and help organize it. This type of dexis is very useful in long and complex texts like journal articles or theses. Also, the use of demonstratives like “this” and “that” can show the writer’s attitude. For example, “this important finding” shows a positive evaluation, while “that assumption” might 82 create distance. These small choices have rhetorical effects, even in technical writing. According to Charles (2003), demonstrative dexis in academic writing is not only for reference, but also for showing stance and evaluation. The selection of a near or far demonstrative can express whether the author agrees or disagrees with an idea, or whether the information is central or marginal to the main argument. Another kind of dexis that is used carefully in scientific texts is temporal dexis. Words such as “now,” “currently,” “previously,” and “recently” help to place the study in time. For example, a sentence like “Currently, many researchers focus on climate resilience” shows the relevance of the topic in the present time. However, overuse of such expressions can make writing less precise, especially when the time reference is vague. In scientific writing, exact dates and clear time frames are preferred when possible, as this improves accuracy and allows replication or comparison. Dexis also varies across cultures, and this can influence how international students approach academic writing in English. In some languages, especially those with rich verbal inflection like Japanese or Korean, deixis can be less explicit because contextual meaning is inferred more from the situation or social cues. In contrast, English tends to require more direct clarification in writing. This difference means that students from such backgrounds may unintentionally underuse or misuse deictic expressions in English academic texts. According to Scollon and Scollon (2001), intercultural discourse awareness is essential when students move between academic systems, as subtle choices like demonstrati