A Corpus-based Analysis of the Frequency of Interactional Metadiscourse Markers in the Introduction and Discussion Sections of Native vs. Non-native English Speakers’ MA Theses in Applied Linguistics

Husam Kadhim, Masar; Vaez-Dalili, Mehdi; Hashim Abdulwahid, Ihsan; Hadian, Bahram

doi:10.22077/ali.2026.9885.1187

A Corpus-based Analysis of the Frequency of Interactional Metadiscourse Markers in the Introduction and Discussion Sections of Native vs. Non-native English Speakers’ MA Theses in Applied Linguistics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Masar Husam Kadhim ¹

Mehdi Vaez-Dalili ¹

Ihsan Hashim Abdulwahid ²

Bahram Hadian ¹

¹ Department of English, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

² Department of English, University of Thi-Qar, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Iraq

10.22077/ali.2026.9885.1187

Abstract

This study employed a contrastive corpus-based investigation of the frequency of interactional metadiscourse markers (MDMs) in the Introduction and Discussion sections of Applied Linguistics MA theses written by native English speakers (NS) and Iraqi non-native speakers (NNS). Following Hyland’s (2004) interpersonal model, the study addressed four research questions comparing interactional MDM use between the groups (i.e. NS vs. NNS) and across the two rhetorical sections (i.e. Introduction vs. Discussion). The findings indicated that while NS writers used more MDMs overall, with a higher proportion of hedges and attitude markers, NNS writers used significantly more boosters, representing a more assertive authorial stance in both Introduction and Discussion sections of their MA theses. However, the study further indicated a prominent pattern of rhetorical adaptation. Both groups significantly increased their use of all categories of MDMs from the Introduction to the Discussion. Most importantly, the NNS writers demonstrated a functional shift in strategy, moving from a preference for boosters in their Introductions to hedges in their Discussions, mirroring the NS pattern. This suggests that while baseline rhetorical styles differ, novice NNS writers possess a developing awareness of genre conventions, adapting their stance to meet the distinct persuasive and interpretive demands of the thesis Discussion section.

Keywords

Metadiscourse marker

Interactional metadiscourse marker

Interpersonal model of metadiscourse

Corpus-based analysis

MA thesis

Subjects