Language Analysis of

Association of obesity with osteoarthritis in elderly Korean women

Through the previous analysis of the whole article, I have a full understanding of

it. According to the requirements of the assignment, I analyze the features of the

language of Park & Lee (2011); specifically, the analysis follows Swales & Feak

(2012). In addition, some of the assignment requirements are not mentioned in Swales

& Feak (2012), and I specially analyze them in Part II.

Part I

1. Swales & Feak (2012) discussed that some authors use the subject We / I and some

author use the article itself when present some ideas. Swales & Feak (2012) wrote

that both styles could be used.

“Epidemiological studies have suggested that genetic factors account for 39–65%

of OA.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 65)

“Consequently, epidemiological studies have found significant variation in the

prevalence of OA according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics,

including obesity.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 65)

In this article, when the authors cite some other articles or study to express their

opinions, the authors usually directly use the article itself as the subject, as I have

mentioned in the two examples (Park & Lee, 2011; Swales & Feak, 2012). Because

the study of epidemiology is objective fact, it is not necessary that the authors use the
word "I suggested". In fact, in most of the literature related to my major that I have

read, few authors use "I / We" in writing to express their opinions drawn from other

literature (Swales & Feak, 2012).

“In this study, we observed a positive association between BMI and the

prevalence of OA in all age groups and found no significant difference among the

ORs of the different age groups.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 67)

Referring to their own research, the authors used "we" as the subject (Park & Lee,

2011; Swales & Feak, 2012). I think this is correct because their research is new and

has not been tested by time (Park & Lee, 2011). Therefore, the use of "we" here could

make the article more rigorous (Park & Lee, 2011). The same is true in much other

academic research.

2. Swales & Feak (2012) mentioned that some authors prefer some negative forms,

and it could be though more academic.

“Although the risk factors are not completely understood, OA is known to develop

as a result of an interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors.” (Park &

Lee, 2011, p. 65)

Here, the authors did not use negative forms (Park & Lee, 2011; Swales & Feak,

2012). However, I think "not...any" is more academic because the risk factor does not

yet understand, and "no" is too absolute if used (Park & Lee, 2011; Swales & Feak,

2012). Therefore, Park & Lee (2012)’s language here is very suitable (Park & Lee,
2011; Swales & Feak, 2012).

“There are no conflicts of interest at this study.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 67)

The authors use the negative form in this sentence, the purpose is to state

objective facts (Park & Lee, 2011).

In conclusion, negative forms are not necessary for this article (Park & Lee, 2011;

Swales & Feak, 2012). In fact, in the vast majority of professional literature that I

have read, there are no very strict requirements for negative forms, and it all depends

on the context and the writer’s purpose (Swales & Feak, 2012). For example, if the

author wants to express the fact that something exists, the author may use a negative

form (Swales & Feak, 2012).

3. Swales & Feak (2012) said that sometimes the use of vague expressions may not

fit in academic writing.

“Additionally, the prevalence of OA is reported to be associated with socioeconomic

characteristics, including income, education, and occupation.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p.

65)

The authors did not use the vague expression in this article (Park & Lee, 2011;

Swales & Feak, 2012). The authors list all the socioeconomic characteristics which

are associated osteoarthritis (Park & Lee, 2011). In academic writing in my field, this

could make the article more professional, more rigorous and more credible.

4. Swales & Feak (2012) though that many fields writers avoid addressing that
 reader as you.

This article is a journal article that did not address the reader as you (Park & Lee,

2011). The opinion in Swales & Feak (2012) is robust, and it is not necessary to

address the reader as “you” in Nutrition research papers.

5. Swales & Feak (2012) discussed the format of the question: Ask direct or indirect

questions. Actually, indirect questions are more common.

“Therefore, this study investigates this association in Korean women aged 50

years or older using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

(KNHANES) data from 2005 to 2008.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 65)

In this article, Park & Lee (2011) did not ask any question in Move 3 of the

introduction section (Park & Lee, 2011). In my opinion, there is no problem at all,

because the question is not necessary.

6. Swales & Feak (2012) stated that academic writing should consider splitting

infinitives, though it is not so common.

“A result was considered to be statistically significant if the 95% CI did not

include 1.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 66)

“To elucidate the detailed risk factors of OA more fully, further investigations of

genetic and immunological risk factors, as well as environmental factors, are

necessary.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 67)

In this article, Park & Lee (2011) did not split any infinitives. The infinitives in
these examples are not split (Swales & Feak, 2012).

Part II

1. Does your paper discuss the use of discipline specific vocabulary and provide

examples? Do you see definitions of any terms? What might this suggest about the

audience?

“Arthritis is one of the most common joint disorders in the world and is the leading

cause of physical disability among elderly people. Although various classifications

exist, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis, all forms of arthritis

induce morbidity and disability in individuals with this disorder. The most common

form of arthritis is OA, which affects approximately 27 million people in the USA.

Because OA is characterized by late-onset degeneration of the articular cartilage, the

prevalence of OA increases dramatically with age. Women have a higher prevalence

of OA than men, but the underlying causes responsible for the increased susceptibility

of women to OA still need to be investigated.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 65)

This article uses the professional term osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, in order to

explain OA, the authors used a whole paragraph to explain to the readers that OA is

one of the most common types of arthritis and affects a large number of people. This

explanation is very rich and detailed for readers with basic nutrition and basic medical

knowledge.
2. Does your paper identify the higher frequency of certain grammar choices in

specific parts of the article? (For example, is there a high frequency of past tense

in the methods section?) Do you explain why those choices might be made?

“This study was based on data from the KNHANES 2005–2008, which included a

health and nutrition survey and a medical examination.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 66)

“The subjects were categorized as underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal (18.5 ≤

BMI < 22.9), overweight (23.0≤ BMI < 24.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 25.0) according to

the WHO definitions for Asian populations. The OA criterion was a self-reported

history of doctor-diagnosed OA.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 66)

“We evaluated the differences in the categorical variables between groups using

the Mantel–Haenszel chi-square test.” (Park & Lee, 2011, p. 66)

This article mainly uses the past tense (Park & Lee, 2011). In the example,

because the authors’ data source is existing data, the data existed before the authors

wrote the article (Park & Lee, 2011). Therefore, the author used the past tense to refer

to things related to the data. In the third example, the authors use the past tense

because the author's evaluation has been completed (Park & Lee, 2011). In

conclusion, because no matter the literature, data or the authors’ evaluation, all

happened in the past and had existed, so the authors used the past tense usually. In

addition, I personally think this is probably the authors’ style.

References

Park, H., & Lee, S.-K. (2011, 9). Association of obesity with osteoarthritis in elderly

Korean women. Maturitas, 70, pp. 65-68. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.05.014

Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students:

Essential Tasks and Skills. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.