ABSTRACT
This chapter exhibits quantitative contrasts of appraisals in English and Chinese scientific research articles. Two types of contrast are made. One is the contrast of the quantities of appraisals in scientific texts in the two languages on the ground of frequency by the independent samples’ t-tests. The other is the contrast of the distribution patterns of appraisals in English and Chinese texts in two dimensions (structure and evenness) and two modes (comprehensive and typological modes). The former shows that there are significant cross-linguistic differences in the quantitative use of appraisals. The latter contrast indicates that the distribution patterns of appraisals are mostly similar in structure but different in evenness between English and Chinese, with appraisals more evenly distributed in Chinese than in English. Besides, the distribution patterns of appraisals across the generic sections of the text exhibit significant structural difference between English and Chinese theoretical articles, but little distinction between English and Chinese applied articles. Discussions are made of the cross-linguistic differences and similarities.
