Repeated Language in Academic Discourse: The Case of Biology Background Statements

Abstract

Repetition in language use has been approached from several rather diverse angles, including pre-fabricated multi-word lexical units and intertextuality of types ranging from quotation to patchwriting (Howard, 1995) to plagiarism. This paper suggests that such divergent approaches to the question of repetition have commonalities which can inform EAP practice, and reports the results of an investigation into repetition in a specific element in biology research articles.