Verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful finite complement clauses in applied linguistics, communication, and measurement and evaluation research articles

17 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

The study cross-investigated finite complement clauses (FCCs) in qualitative (QUALI) and quantitative (QUANTI) research articles (RAs) written by Filipino academic writers (FAWs) in Applied Linguistics (APPLING), Communication (COMM), and Measurement and Evaluation (MEEV). Specifically, it determined the FCCs with the most occurrences across five disciplinary
RA sub-registers and identified whether these FCCs differ significantly in terms of frequencies of use. With Hernandez’s (2021) framework adapted from Biber and Gray’s (2016) study, this research analyzed five FCCs in 42 disciplinary RAs. Major results revealed that verb-controlled that-clauses outnumbered other FCCs in RA sub-registers across disciplines. They were more recurrent in QUALI and QUANTI APPLING RAs and QUANTI and QUALI COMM RAs than in QUANTI MEEV RAs. In addition, a significant difference exists between them and other FCCs at the p<.05 level in terms of frequencies of use. In view of these findings, it can be concluded that verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful FCCs in APPLING, COMM, and MEEV RAs. Likewise, FAWs across the three disciplines write more informally as signposted by their repeated use of that complementizer with these FCCs controlled by verbs. The study draws its implications for academic writing instruction.

Exploring finite complements clauses in disciplinary research articles is a pressing need. It may advance positive implications for academic writing instruction. Equally important, such a linguistic investigation is crucial because it can contribute towards fulfilling the Philippine education’s thrust of creating more research publications—as stipulated in the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order Number 15, Series of 2019 (CMO No. 15, s. 2019) and Department of Education Order Number 39, Series of 2016 (DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2016).

Author: Hjalmar Puna Hernandez (Department of Humanities, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/reflections/article/view/271944/181719

Verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful finite complement clauses in applied linguistics, communication, and measurement and evaluation research articles

The study cross-investigated finite complement clauses (FCCs) in qualitative (QUALI) and quantitative (QUANTI) research articles (RAs) written by Filipino academic writers (FAWs) in Applied Linguistics (APPLING), Communication (COMM), and Measurement and Evaluation (MEEV). Specifically, it determined the FCCs with the most occurrences across five disciplinary
RA sub-registers and identified whether these FCCs differ significantly in terms of frequencies of use. With Hernandez’s (2021) framework adapted from Biber and Gray’s (2016) study, this research analyzed five FCCs in 42 disciplinary RAs. Major results revealed that verb-controlled that-clauses outnumbered other FCCs in RA sub-registers across disciplines. They were more recurrent in QUALI and QUANTI APPLING RAs and QUANTI and QUALI COMM RAs than in QUANTI MEEV RAs. In addition, a significant difference exists between them and other FCCs at the p<.05 level in terms of frequencies of use. In view of these findings, it can be concluded that verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful FCCs in APPLING, COMM, and MEEV RAs. Likewise, FAWs across the three disciplines write more informally as signposted by their repeated use of that complementizer with these FCCs controlled by verbs. The study draws its implications for academic writing instruction.

Exploring finite complements clauses in disciplinary research articles is a pressing need. It may advance positive implications for academic writing instruction. Equally important, such a linguistic investigation is crucial because it can contribute towards fulfilling the Philippine education’s thrust of creating more research publications—as stipulated in the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order Number 15, Series of 2019 (CMO No. 15, s. 2019) and Department of Education Order Number 39, Series of 2016 (DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2016).

Author: Hjalmar Puna Hernandez (Department of Humanities, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/reflections/article/view/271944/181719