Characteristics of science journalism - Essay Example

What are lexical choice, metaphor and semantic structures and how they are used by in constructing their reports The word lexical means by the use of vocabulary in the language particularly in syntactical and grammatical aspects. An author should make sure that his/her vocabulary is grammatically and syntactically correct while writing an article. When it comes to the use of metaphors in an article, he/she must be very careful so as they not confuse the reader as metaphor is nothing but a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity. By the use of these an author attracts the reader to read the article and spread awareness among the readers about a particular subject. the word semantic defines of or relating to meaning, especially in language or the study of meaning, semantic analysis Below is an article on new developments of genetic engineering in dairy cattle. Through generations of careful selection and breeding, animal breeders have succeeded in building the high quality and production of today's dairy cattle. While they continue to improve the genetic potential of dairy cattle through these traditional means, genetic engineering, through in early stages of development, holds promise of a new approach to breeding. Transgenic technology and cloning by nuclear transfer are two such techniques. Transgenic technology, involves transferring foreign genes into an animal, is used in biomedical reseat with laboratory mice. But for reasons that are not fully understood, cattle appear to be less likely to integrate a foreign gene than other large animals, which in turn have less success than laboratory mice. Low success rates combined with the high costs of maintaining cattle, the long intervals between generations, and the small number of offspring, have made transgenic reseat with cattle extremely expensive, which limits the number of laboratories worldwide equipped to conduct the research. As a result, large research programs are being supported primarily by private pharmaceutical companies with the aim of producing transgenic cattle that secrete high-value proteins (e.g., pharmaceutical compounds used to treat human disease) in their milk. For example, the goal of one east coast company is to capture the market for human infant formula by trying to produce transgenic cattle whose milk contains an important protein found in human breast milk. While pharmaceutical companies are exploring transgenic technology for commercial purposes, animal science researchers at U.C., Davis, are focused on developing the technology to advance the dairy industry. Specifically, we are investigating whether foreign genes inserted into dairy cattle can change the manufacturing or nutritional properties of milk. We have succeeded in demonstration with transgenic mice that foreign genes can be expressed by the mammary gland to modify milk components. However, we have met the same obstacles as industrial scientists in trying to produce similar results in transgenic cattle. It appears that what we need is a significant breakthrough to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of aiming transgenic cattle. Cloning by nuclear transfer is another method of genetic engineering still in experimental stages. Despite all the media reports, the purpose behind experiments leading to the creation of "Dolly", the sheep made famous through cloning, was not to make multiple copies of a single animal. Rather, researchers were interested in finding cell types that could be used to generate a normal animal after transfer of a cell's nucleus into a recently ovulated egg, a process known as nuclear transfer. The ultimate goal of this cloning research is to produce animals from cells that have been genetically modified in the laboratory, or in other words, to produce transgenic animals from transgenic cells. The advantage of this approach is that cultured cells can be modified and selected in the laboratory and then allowed to develop into a transgenic animal, instead of relying on the small number of transgenic offspring produce by injection DNA into embryos. At U.C.Davis, we have begun research aimed a developing embryonic cells lines that can be used to produce transgenic dairy cattle by nuclear transfer. We believe that our cell lines will offer certain advantages over those currently being tested by other laboratories. The above article is written by Gary Anderson, a professor in the Department of Animal Science at U.C. Davis. He was recently honored as a "Teacher of the Year" at the university. In this above article the writer has used simple English which can be understood by any reader and makes it very interesting. The writer has very well employed the lexical choices in the article for ex: the use of words cloning, transgenic, offspring and many other. while writing an article the writer should make sure that he/she does not make grammatical or syntactical errors. Sometimes the some sentences sound grammatically correct but in actual they are not. Bernard spolsky in his book states that to identify errors we have to compare the sentences learners produce with what seems to be the normal or correct sentence in the target language which corresponds with them. Sometimes this is fairly straightforward. For example, jean says: a man and a little boy was watching him. it is not difficult to see that the correct sentence should be: a man and a little boy was watching him. He also gives a very good difference between the word error and mistake. He says that the word error reflects gaps in a learners knowledge; they occur because the learner does not know what is correct. Mistakes reflect occasional lapses in performance; they occur because, in particular instance, the learner is unable to perform what he or she knows. Thus the writer should be very specific in his language in terms of grammar and syntax. Language has contributed a lot in spreading the information to the people world wide. Metaphor in science. Human attitudes are turned with the use of language in the articles. The more simple and correct is the language the more are the readers attracted. When we look at the metaphor in science we can say that it is very interesting to read of the increasing interest that is being generated around metaphors in science. It actually impossible in terms of formulating any easy understanding of the natural world without metaphors in some way or another. in the biological world, metaphors have a further complication in that they frequently become teleologies as well. a teleology is nothing but an explanation that accords purpose to some attribute. So, the eye is designed to be some sort of video camera; the immune system is designed to defend the body against foreign organisms; hair is designed to insulate the body; feathers are designed to help a bird fly. There has been a great trend to condemn metaphor and teleology, "out of hand", as unscientific; so much so in biomedicine that the literature generated in scientific journals has become increasingly sterile and unadventurous. Now all these attributes are seen to be an advantage that has followed their chance evolution, there was no purpose in their emergence. Indeed, in many in instances for example feathers, the origin of their chance evolution may have conferred an advantage of a quite different purpose but happened to promote a new advantageous adaptation. Emerging metaphors are the life blood of scientific revolution even though consolidative science needs to iron these out of existence. There has been a great trend to condemn metaphor and teleology, out of hand, as unscientific; so much so in biomedicine that the literature generated in scientific journals has become increasingly sterile and unadventurous. Speculations and hypothesis have become increasingly regarded as corrupting and heretical. But if you see in any text book of immunology for example you will find teleology and metaphor in copious profusion: discrimination, tolerance, surveillance, signal, proliferate, engulf, protect, digest, drain, encounter, organize, trigger, secrete, release, recognize, bind, dispose, generate, initiate, destroy, kill, activate, repair, trap and carry are just a few. Each of these is a word that has a day to day meaning but is now used, analogously, to enhance better understanding of the workings of the immune system. Inevitably, these metaphors/teleologies are tailored to the reigning paradigm. In a paradigm shift much of this profuse metaphorical language will change radically or shift in emphasis. The religious fervour that scientists have for particular paradigms is largely entangled in these metaphorical analogies which are an anachronism. We must recognize that this dependence on metaphor is both a strength helping us to understand - at a certain point in time and a millstone which leave us stranded up blind alleys and generating Bacon's idols. We have to adapt our language which has primarily evolved for a description of our immediate world and social interaction to help us to understand a strange new world. This is inescapable. So, we must simply remain aware of its limitations, its dangers and be prepared to recognize it wherever it is employed. If I think it is an interesting feature of metaphors in science that they will often appear stealthily then take on a life of their own; they sneak in without anyone complaining. They may initially be used as a descriptive technique to bring common sense to bear on a discipline. This enables it to be understood and described in a relatively uncomplicated way. But once established such metaphors attract potent advocates and protectors. These people often adopt them; lock stock and barrel, as literal truths rather than useful analogies. Although their meanings have often shifted subtly, their authority becomes unchallengeable without first committing an act of heresy. Metaphors should always remain malleable and their validity should be regularly reviewed; and they must be acknowledged so that we can stay on our guard. Lastly about finding a valuable metaphor or set of metaphor is that it or they can open up a totally new perspective upon things. It also helps to appreciate better what may be happening. Rhetorical characteristics of science journalism Science journalism tends to be mostly practiced by the people who majored in humanities rather than in science. There is probably lot of truth behind that. we can also concede that when science writing is done by people with actual science background, it offer it because the writers would really prefer to be doing science rather than journalism. people mostly tend to complain of too much jargon in writing about scientific subjects. People want things to be in simple and plain English. But this demand is unrealistic because science writing is dumbed down as much as it can. the one major fact behind this is that language is built upon the hierarchy of concepts, scientific or technical concepts correspond to specialized technical terms, terms of art, and the like(the jargon).if we take a specific example for this like for elementary particles in physics. by the term like protons and neutrons and electrons are familiar enough to public. but to really get into the subject, you need terms like baryons, strong force, symmetry and so forth..Definately, on the first introduction of such terms you give the definitions in plain English with simple language. But after that, heaven help if cant count the audience to remember the definition and you must repeat them instead every time to invoke the concept. Although the particular concept of science news reflect national values and interest within each country, such as attitudes towards public education and economic development, science journalism shares certain characteristics and challenges, primarily because the scientific communities, professional communication, interaction are global in nature. Science news includes stories about the result and conclusion of research studies; research processes, instrumentation and ethics. In addition news about other topics may include scientific information and explanation and statements from scientist. The type of news story that typifies contemporary science reporting evolved over the last hundred years, as both science and journalism became more professionalized and scientist accomplishment became increasingly news worthy. Before then, science news reports contained little criticism or interpretations. By incorporating information and images of science into news and entertainment, the mass media provide a critical link between society and scientific enterprise. Journalists report new research finding while television documentaries and books summarize the state of knowledge. Science communicated to mass audience in such formats resembles, but is not identical to, the science communicated among specialists in textbooks and journals, differing in purpose and authorship as well as level of details. Mass media or popularized science seeks to inform and entertain its audience rather than to educate them. Professional journalist shape the content of popular science with sensitivity to market forces and audience tastes rather than necessarily to scientific standards. Therefore, we conclude saying that science journalism is practiced more in people dealing with humanities rather than science. Bibliography Sociolinguistics, Bernard Spolsky Professional journalism, M.V. Kamath. Precision journalism, Philip Meyer A look at technicality in science journalism, Lori Sturdevant Essentials of English grammar, Otto jespersen Read More