Ex. 8 Academic Writing: Speech patterns and rhetorical devices

1.    Intensification

Ex. 1             Translate these words into Russian: absolutely, actually, adequately, broadly, completely, considerably, constantly, effectively, entirely, equally, essentially, especially, extremely, exactly, far, fully, fundamentally, inevitably, highly, immediately, greatly, keenly, largely, manifestly, markedly, naturally, necessarily, particularly, peculiarly,  perfectly, primarily, purely, radically, significantly, specially, specifically strongly; totally, truly; ultimately, uniquely.

Ex. 2             Make up your own sentences with these words.

Ex. 3             Translate these sentences, pay special attention to intensifiers:

a)    It seems highly probable that the situation might change.

b)    This approach is highly complex (controversial) and can’t be accepted at present.

c)    This problem is still left largely unaddressed (unexplored), though one can find a lot of references to it.

d)    This theory …                     

... largely ignores mathematical....

...was greeted with a storm of criticism.               

     ... strongly affects/ depends on/ influences / indicates that ...

     ... is completely comprehensive/ typical/ irrelevant/ unacceptable.

     ... is particularly useful.

     ... is particularly informative.

     ... is perfectly acceptable/ (formal/ functional).

     ... should not be taken as purely negative.           

     ... is totally clear-cut/ self-sufficient.

     ... provides totally naturalistic explanation.

This method  

...really entails/ needs/ relates to/ involves

...indicates how…

... can really be fruitful.

We cannot really understand the nature of this phenomenon.

e)    I am not really in a position to speak about this method.

f)     This technology will  be a step to truly green economics.

g)    Investigators can now see how electrons truly interact with one another.

h)    This concept should be adequately and explicitly defined.

2.    De-intensification:

Ex. 1             Translate these words into Russian: barely, basically, commonly, customarily, fairly, hardly, merely, mainly, nearly, normally, possibly, practice rather, slightly, somehow, virtually, weakly, typically, usually.                                

Ex. 2             Read and translate the following sentences:

a)    Such studies have barely begun.

b)    The approach developed has a fairly specific meaning.

c)    The method used  is hardly acceptable (necessary/ ever used).

d)    This method gives merely probable results.

e)    This notion/ definition is rather vague (controversial).

f)     This constitutes a rather interesting case.

g)    This   is simply irrelevant. 

h)    This gas   is somehow leaking into the air.

i)      This distinction is slightly artificial (different/ odd).

j)      This is a slightly odd form of presentation.

k)    They are only weakly dependent.

l)      This research is basically descriptive/ comparative.

m)  I am basically in disagreement with this view.

n)    This point of view commonly accepted/ assumed/ exploited/ used. ...is more frequent than the second one.

o)    Such modifications are normally the result of implementation of new technologies.

Ex. 3             Make up your own sentences with these words.

3.    Emphatic quantification:

Ex. 1             Translate these words into Russian: great, more, the most, most, much, variety, various.

Ex. 2             Use these expressions in sentences of your own: great interest in …/…a great deal to be done in elaborating…/...pay a great deal of attention to…/…cost. ...may be very great. /...one great value of…/...pay more attention to …/...no more alternatives to…

Ex. 3             Read and translate the following sentences:

a)    Now let's look at a more realistic example.

b)    This is the most elementary information of all.

c)    The most basic feature/ transparent approach/ usual pattern.

d)    The most complete/ explicit account of the problem is found in …

e)    Finding a new approach is the most difficult task.

f)     Much   depends here on …

g)    This   volume provides much insight into the problem.

h)    There is an infinite/ huge/ wide variety of phenomena (experiments/

i)      This method is used in the manufacturing of a variety of items.

j)      A variety of these anomalous features can be easily explained.

k)    Various models have been put forward to explain the phenomenon.

4.    Emphatic operators:

Ex. 1             Find Russian equivalents of the following words: enough, non-, none, at least, indeed, by no means, even, just, mere, only, quite, very.

Ex. 2             Read and translate the following sentences:

a)    This concept is convincing enough (to be used).

b)    He fails to make a convincing enough argument for the whole group.

c)    Enough has been said   to prove this approach.    

d)    It is easy enough to show that...

e)    It should be understandable to non-specialists.

f)     None of the errors proved serious.

g)    The proposed mechanisms are at least plausible.

h)    There are at least two applications of this method.

i)      At least   this is the conclusion of our study.

j)      It is indeed remarkable that …

k)    Such artifacts   are indeed distorting the picture.

l)      Actual content .is by no means the end of the story.

m)  Even in simple cases, such quantities are difficult to calculate.

n)    Even complex models may not simulate feedback effects accurately.

o)    Even a short computer program can prove difficult to check out.

p)    Recent work shows just how systematic such phenomena can be.

q)    This principle is really just an extension of the notion of preference.

r)     We shall adopt the scheme of just four categories.

s)     It is relevant only when...

t)      The only sure way of doing this is…

u)    This algorithm is quite unacceptable/ appropriate/ adequate for / distinct from…

v)    We can do that quite simply.

w)  There is a very wide variety of