Open AccessAgency in scientific discourse
Author(s) -
Tobias Weber,
Mia Klee
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bulletin of the "transilvania" university of braşov. series iv, philology and cultural studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2066-7698
pISSN - 2066-768X
DOI - 10.31926/but.pcs.2020.62.13.1.5
Subject(s) - objectivity (philosophy) , agency (philosophy) , epistemology , point (geometry) , sociology , engineering ethics , psychology , linguistics , political science , engineering , philosophy , geometry , mathematics
In recent times, the trend of aiming for objectivity and reproducibility in science has arrived in linguistic discourse. A critical point in this debate is the agency in speakers’ language use and, simultaneously, in the researchers’ description and interpretation. The aim of objectivity demotes, by default, the role of the subjects, often by imposing structures to limit agency. We can see various scenarios where researchers can purposefully bend rules, thus exerting their agentive stance in the research endeavour. This paper aims to address issues pertaining to agency as opposed to the goal of reproducibility, where the researchers’ and consultants’ agency on different aspects of the research process shape its outcomes. Training early career researchers and students in using