A discourse dynamics analysis of academic voice construction: Disciplinary variation, trajectories, and dynamic interaction patterns

The discourse dynamics approach is a novel approach proposed within Complex Dynamic Systems Theory to explore the developmental and interactional characteristics of a complex system as manifested in discourse over time. This approach has been attested to be advantageous for identifying the evolutionary dynamics of language practices and social events. The current study adopts this approach to investigate the diachronic changes and dynamic interaction patterns of different categories of voice markers across four disciplines in 1970–2020. Using published research articles sampled with two-year intervals, the analysis revealed non-linear trajectories and dynamically changing interaction patterns of different categories of voice markers, as well as disciplinary variation in the use, trajectories, and interaction patterns of such expressions. Our findings demonstrate the value of understanding academic voice construction from a diachronic perspective through the discourse dynamics approach and can be useful for informing academic writing pedagogy aimed at helping novice academic writers understand discipline-specific practices of academic voice construction.