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Professional Communicative Professional Communicative

Competencies for EngineersCompetencies for Engineers

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Topics Topics

1.1. Computer-mediated methodologies to Computer-mediated methodologies to study language use in a range of study language use in a range of professional engineering contexts of professional engineering contexts of situationsituation

2.2. Variation in language and textual Variation in language and textual organisation across a range of professional organisation across a range of professional engineering text-typesengineering text-types

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Corpus-based inquiries Corpus-based inquiries

““a corpus is a collection of naturally-occurring language text, a corpus is a collection of naturally-occurring language text, chosen to characterize a state or variety of a language” chosen to characterize a state or variety of a language” (Sinclair, 1991: 171)(Sinclair, 1991: 171)

General and specialised corporaGeneral and specialised corpora

Computer-mediated programmes for text analysis and Computer-mediated programmes for text analysis and manipulation, e.g. manipulation, e.g. ConcGram, WordSmith ToolsConcGram, WordSmith Tools

Wordlists and concordancesWordlists and concordances

The importance of surrounding language The importance of surrounding language

The strong recurrent patterns of languageThe strong recurrent patterns of language

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Impact of corpus linguisticsImpact of corpus linguisticsSince the 1980s, linguists have been studying Since the 1980s, linguists have been studying large collections of naturally-occurring spoken large collections of naturally-occurring spoken and written texts (corpora) using computers to and written texts (corpora) using computers to better describe language use. better describe language use.

Examples of the impact of corpus linguistics:Examples of the impact of corpus linguistics: COBUILD, Cambridge, Longman dictionaries, COBUILD, Cambridge, Longman dictionaries,

grammars etc.grammars etc. better understanding of patterns of word association better understanding of patterns of word association

and meaningand meaning tracking changes in the English languagetracking changes in the English language

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General English language corporaGeneral English language corpora

The world’s two largest corpora are in the The world’s two largest corpora are in the UK:UK:

1.1. British National Corpus (BNC) (100 m British National Corpus (BNC) (100 m words) words) (http://sara.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/lookup.html)(http://sara.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/lookup.html)

2.2. Bank of English (approx. 500 m words) Bank of English (approx. 500 m words) (http://www.collins.co.uk/corpus/CorpusSearc(http://www.collins.co.uk/corpus/CorpusSearch.aspx)h.aspx)

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Examples of specialised corpora Examples of specialised corpora

Hong Kong Corpus of Spoken English (prosodic) Hong Kong Corpus of Spoken English (prosodic) (academic, business, conversational and public (academic, business, conversational and public texts), 2007texts), 2007

Hong Kong Financial Services Corpus (HKFSC), Hong Kong Financial Services Corpus (HKFSC), 2007 2007

Hong Kong Engineering Corpus (HKEC) to be Hong Kong Engineering Corpus (HKEC) to be compiledcompiled: : A small corpus of symposium papers A small corpus of symposium papers from website of from website of HKIE Electrical DivisionHKIE Electrical Division

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Annual SymposiumAnnual Symposium 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005 20062006

No. of papersNo. of papers 99 99 88 99 99

No. of wordsNo. of words 25,70225,702 26,84926,849 23,01723,017 27,28227,282 28,41528,415

Total no. of wordsTotal no. of words 131,265131,265

HKIE Electrical Division HKIE Electrical Division Annual Symposium papers (2002-2006)Annual Symposium papers (2002-2006)

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Determining KEY words Determining KEY words in a specialised corpusin a specialised corpus

The weirdness ratio: The asymmetry in the distribution of a word in a special language corpus and a general language corpus

general

general

special

special

Nf

Nf

termweirdness )(

If weirdness >1, a specialist term;If weirdness <1, not a specialist term.

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Sample of key words in Sample of key words in symposium paperssymposium papers

autotransformer arresters anisotropicautotransformer arresters anisotropic

arc-faultarc-fault broadband ballast-driven broadband ballast-driven

combustorcombustor chillers chillers criticality criticality

dimmabledimmable diode diode double-busbar double-busbar

energizedenergized epoxy epoxy electrorheologyelectrorheology

electrolytic feederselectrolytic feeders gratings gratings

hydrogen-cooled inverter impedancehydrogen-cooled inverter impedance

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Corpus-based inquiries Corpus-based inquiries Not sure what word or words to say or write?Not sure what word or words to say or write?

Consult a corpus and study the Consult a corpus and study the frequenciesfrequencies and and contexts of usecontexts of use of the words or words. of the words or words.

A corpus can be more reliable than relying on A corpus can be more reliable than relying on one’s intuition or the intuition of somebody one’s intuition or the intuition of somebody elseelse

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Symposium papers Wordlist Symposium papers Wordlist

11 thethe 91049104 7.2172 %7.2172 %22 ofof 47704770 3.7814 %3.7814 %3 3 andand 41034103 3.2527 %3.2527 %

3939 electricalelectrical 257257 0.2037 %0.2037 %

4444 electricityelectricity 245245 0.1942 %0.1942 %

6666 turbineturbine 184184 0.1459 %0.1459 %

7979 windwind 162162 0.1284 %0.1284 %

149149 electricelectric 9797 0.0769 %0.0769 %

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2-word concgrams: electrical2-word concgrams: electrical

electrical electrical thethe 52 52 electricalelectrical ofof 4848electricalelectrical andand 2424electricalelectrical engineeringengineering 2323electricalelectrical installationinstallation 2323electricalelectrical equipmentequipment 1919electricalelectrical systemsystem 1616electricalelectrical powerpower 1414electricalelectrical forfor 1313electricalelectrical installationsinstallations 1313

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2-word concgrams: electrical2-word concgrams: electrical

electricalelectrical inin 1212electricalelectrical anan 1111electricalelectrical mainmain 1111electricalelectrical datadata 1010electricalelectrical distributiondistribution 99electricalelectrical supplysupply 99electricalelectrical infrastructureinfrastructure 88electricalelectrical parametersparameters 77electricalelectrical systemssystems 66electricalelectrical energyenergy 66

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2-word concgrams: electrical2-word concgrams: electrical

electricalelectrical engineersengineers 55electricalelectrical engineerengineer 44electricalelectrical forcesforces 44electricalelectrical industryindustry 33electricalelectrical informationinformation 33electricalelectrical signalssignals 33electricalelectrical toto 33electricalelectrical onon 33electricalelectrical fromfrom 22electricalelectrical generalgeneral 22

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3-word concgrams: wind turbine3-word concgrams: wind turbine

wind turbine + thewind turbine + the 6969wind turbine + awind turbine + a 5252wind turbine + ofwind turbine + of 48 48wind turbine + andwind turbine + and 3232wind turbine + iswind turbine + is 3030wind turbine + to wind turbine + to 29 29wind turbine + for wind turbine + for 2222wind turbine + sitewind turbine + site 1717wind turbine + waswind turbine + was 1414wind turbine + inwind turbine + in 1313wind turbine + on wind turbine + on 1212

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3-word concgrams: wind turbine3-word concgrams: wind turbine

wind turbine + Lamma wind turbine + Lamma 13 13wind turbine + capacity wind turbine + capacity 8 8wind turbine + constructionwind turbine + construction 8 8wind turbine + Islandwind turbine + Island 8 8wind turbine + widerwind turbine + wider 7 7wind turbine + yawed wind turbine + yawed 5 5wind turbine + sensor wind turbine + sensor 5 5wind turbine + farms wind turbine + farms 5 5wind turbine + located wind turbine + located 5 5wind turbine + connected wind turbine + connected 5 5

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Wind turbineWind turbinee 6 Automatic Slope Irrigation System 2.3 e 6 Automatic Slope Irrigation System 2.3 WINDWIND TURBINETURBINE PROJECTS PROJECTS WindWind turbines turbinesa full EIA was required to ascertain that the a full EIA was required to ascertain that the WindWind TurbineTurbine Project on Lamma Island or Project on Lamma Island or

research purpose. Currently, the largest research purpose. Currently, the largest windwind turbineturbine is a single 2.5kW machine grid is a single 2.5kW machine grid connected hybrid RE system. Figure 7 connected hybrid RE system. Figure 7 WindWind TurbineTurbine at Shek Kwu Chau There are at Shek Kwu Chau There are

cablecar.com FIRST GRID-CONNECTED cablecar.com FIRST GRID-CONNECTED WINDWIND TURBINETURBINE FOR POWER FOR POWERonmentally acceptable to install one 800kW onmentally acceptable to install one 800kW windwind turbineturbine as a demonstration as a demonstrationer of 50m and a rated power of 800kW. The er of 50m and a rated power of 800kW. The windwind turbineturbine is of stall-regulated, “horizontal is of stall-regulated, “horizontal

generation at Tai Ling on Lamma Island. The generation at Tai Ling on Lamma Island. The windwind turbineturbine system with built-in safety system with built-in safety

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wind turbinewind turbine

Purpose/FunctionPurpose/Function

power generation in power generation in HK HK

windwind

turbineturbinePurpose/FunctionPurpose/Function

for power generation for power generation for wider applicationfor wider application (3)(3), to produce , to produce electricity (2), electricity (2), renewable energy,renewable energy,

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wind turbinewind turbine

LocationLocation

Lam Ma Island/ Lam Ma Island/ Lamma (6), Lamma (6),

potential sites, potential sites, preferred site (Tai preferred site (Tai Ling)Ling)

windwind

turbineturbineLocation Location

site (5site (5),),

Lamma Island (8Lamma Island (8),),

Shek Kwn Chau, Shek Kwn Chau,

Tai LingTai Ling

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wind turbinewind turbine

Development Development

installation (2installation (2),),

operation (2)operation (2),,

construction,construction,

mmaintenanceaintenance,,

developmentdevelopment,,

one-year one-year monitoringmonitoring

windwind

turbineturbineDevelopment Development

installation (2), installation (2), automatic automatic operation, operation, operation, operation, monitored and monitored and controlled, site controlled, site unmanned, unmanned, construction stage, construction stage, in operation, in operation,

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wind turbinewind turbine

Nature/Features Nature/Features

first, first,

a pilot scheme, a pilot scheme,

in-service, in-service, potentialpotential, , grid-grid-connectedconnected, , power, power,

Principle of PowerPrinciple of Power

windwind

turbineturbineNature/Features Nature/Features

built-in safety and built-in safety and protection, protection,

the most common the most common configurationconfiguration, ,

uses its wing uses its wing profileprofile

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wind turbinewind turbine

HeightHeight

ground levelground level

windwind

turbineturbineHeight Height

hub height, hub height,

limited to 92 to 97 m, limited to 92 to 97 m, complying with the complying with the aviation height aviation height restriction, restriction,

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wind turbinewind turbine

Evaluation Evaluation

the largest, the largest, desirable, desirable,

reputable, reputable, acceptable, acceptable, unsuitable, unsuitable, adequate, artistic adequate, artistic view of Lamma (2), view of Lamma (2),

windwind

turbineturbineEvaluationEvaluation

desirable height, desirable height,

suitable size,suitable size,

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2-word concgrams: electrical2-word concgrams: electrical

electricalelectrical SERVICESSERVICES 22electricalelectrical sensorsensor 22electricalelectrical ContractorsContractors 22electricalelectrical ChiefChief 22electricalelectrical conductionconduction 22electricalelectrical conventionalconventional 22electricalelectrical circuitscircuits 22electricalelectrical fixedfixed 22electricalelectrical fieldfield 22

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2-word concgrams: electrical2-word concgrams: electrical

electricalelectrical historicalhistorical 22electricalelectrical kVkV 22electricalelectrical enhancingenhancing 22electricalelectrical RMSRMS 22electricalelectrical safetysafety 22electricalelectrical largelarge 22electricalelectrical monitoringmonitoring 22electricalelectrical OfficeOffice 22electricalelectrical qualityquality 22electricalelectrical ResponsesResponses 22

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2-word concgrams: electricity2-word concgrams: electricity

electricityelectricity ofof 4343electricityelectricity NATIONALNATIONAL 40 40 electricityelectricity THETHE 3333electricityelectricity MARKETMARKET 3333electricityelectricity supplysupply 3131electricityelectricity toto 1515electricityelectricity industryindustry 1212electricityelectricity generationgeneration 1212electricityelectricity RulesRules 1010electricityelectricity demanddemand 99

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2-word concgrams: electricity2-word concgrams: electricity

electricityelectricity LawLaw 8 8 electricityelectricity forfor 77electricityelectricity inin 77electricityelectricity SINGAPORESINGAPORE 77electricityelectricity CodeCode 66electricityelectricity wholesalewholesale 66electricityelectricity reliablereliable 55electricityelectricity transmissiontransmission 55electricityelectricity WIRINGWIRING 44electricityelectricity generatedgenerated 44electricityelectricity systemsystem 44

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2-word concgrams: electricity2-word concgrams: electricity

electricityelectricity isis 33electricityelectricity newnew 33electricityelectricity gridgrid 33electricityelectricity onon 33electricityelectricity pricesprices 33electricityelectricity retailretail 33electricityelectricity suppliessupplies 33electricityelectricity effectiveeffective 33electricityelectricity fromfrom 33electricityelectricity FinnishFinnish 33

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2-word concgrams: electricity2-word concgrams: electricity

electricityelectricity CLASSCLASS 22electricityelectricity secondarysecondary 22electricityelectricity Ordinance Ordinance 22electricityelectricity soldsold 22electricityelectricity sectorsector 22electricityelectricity integratedintegrated 22electricityelectricity produceproduce 22electricityelectricity PowerPower 22electricityelectricity totaltotal 22electricityelectricity existingexisting 22

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2-word concgrams: electric2-word concgrams: electric

electricelectric HongkongHongkong 3434electricelectric powerpower 1818electricelectric CoCo 17 17 electricelectric TheThe 1515electricelectric CompanyCompany 1010electricelectric fieldfield 99electricelectric XIANXIAN 88electricelectric vehiclevehicle 77electricelectric machinemachine 55electricelectric hybridhybrid 44electricelectric ManufacturingManufacturing 44

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2-word concgrams: electric2-word concgrams: electric

electricelectric MitsubishiMitsubishi 44electricelectric IrIr 33electricelectric ImportImport 33electricelectric highhigh 22electricelectric lEElEE 22electricelectric ofof 22electricelectric ProceedingsProceedings 22electricelectric throughthrough 22electricelectric ChinaChina 22electricelectric GeneralGeneral 22electricelectric GEGE 22

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3-word concgrams: gas turbine 3-word concgrams: gas turbine

gas turbine + thegas turbine + the 110110gas turbine + andgas turbine + and 48 48gas turbine + to gas turbine + to 46 46gas turbine + isgas turbine + is 43 43gas turbine + a gas turbine + a 42 42gas turbine + ofgas turbine + of 40 40gas turbine + bygas turbine + by 19 19gas turbine + steamgas turbine + steam 36 36gas turbine + classgas turbine + class 24 24gas turbine + generatorgas turbine + generator 21 21gas turbine + withgas turbine + with 15 15

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3-word concgrams: gas turbine3-word concgrams: gas turbine

gas turbine + atgas turbine + at 14 14gas turbine + forgas turbine + for 12 12gas turbine + ongas turbine + on 12 12gas turbine + efficiencygas turbine + efficiency 1212gas turbine + exhaustgas turbine + exhaust 1212gas turbine + temperaturegas turbine + temperature 1212gas turbine + coupled gas turbine + coupled 1111gas turbine + singlegas turbine + single 1010gas turbine + consistsgas turbine + consists 1010gas turbine + systemgas turbine + system 99gas turbine + locatedgas turbine + located 88

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References References Ahmad, K. Terminology in Text. Tuscan Word Centre Workshop. Siena, Italy. Ahmad, K. Terminology in Text. Tuscan Word Centre Workshop. Siena, Italy.

June, 2005.June, 2005.Bhatia, V.K. 2004. Bhatia, V.K. 2004. Worlds of Written Discourse.Worlds of Written Discourse. London and New York: London and New York:

Continuum.Continuum.Byram, M. 1997. Byram, M. 1997. Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative

CompetenceCompetence. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.Capucho, F. and Oliveira, A.M. 2005. Eu & I: On the notion of Capucho, F. and Oliveira, A.M. 2005. Eu & I: On the notion of

intercomprehension. In Martins, A. (ed.) Building bridges: EU&I. European intercomprehension. In Martins, A. (ed.) Building bridges: EU&I. European Awareness and Intercomprehension (pp. 11-18). Viseu: Universidade Cato´ Awareness and Intercomprehension (pp. 11-18). Viseu: Universidade Cato´ lica Portuguesa, Centro Regional das Beiras.lica Portuguesa, Centro Regional das Beiras.

Cheng, W. 2004. // Cheng, W. 2004. // did you did you TOOKTOOK // // from the mini from the miniBARBAR //: What is the //: What is the practical relevance of a corpus-driven language study to practitioners in practical relevance of a corpus-driven language study to practitioners in Hong Kong’s hotel industry? In U. Connor & T. Upton (Eds.), Hong Kong’s hotel industry? In U. Connor & T. Upton (Eds.), Discourse in Discourse in the Professions. the Professions. (pp. 141-166). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. (pp. 141-166). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Crismore, A., Markkanen, R., Steffensen, M. 1993. Metadiscourse in Crismore, A., Markkanen, R., Steffensen, M. 1993. Metadiscourse in persuasive writing: A study of texts written by American and Finnish persuasive writing: A study of texts written by American and Finnish university students. university students. Written Communication,Written Communication, 10/1: 39-71. 10/1: 39-71.


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