A Linguistic Analysis of Economics Articles

Nils Goldschmidt and Benedikt Szmrecsanyi

American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 2007, vol. 66, issue 2, pages 335-378

Abstract: The present study aims to add to our knowledge about economic rhetoric by conducting a data-driven analysis of economic academic discourse, both synchronically in its contemporary form, and diachronically over the past four decades. We find (1) that linguistically, economics is clearly an academic genre of its own, (2) that there are at the same time clear differences in vocabulary and style usage across economic journals, and (3) that there have been major developments in economic prose during the past four decades. We argue that there is some, albeit tentative, evidence that the discipline may face an increasing methodological gap. Copyright 2007 American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Inc..

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