The White Worsted Thread: Third Space Encounters in English L2 Writing – A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Writing for Publication in English

Abstract

This paper aims to propose a theoretical framework for investigating L2 speaking scholars who successfully write in English for publication. The theories brought together -which are associated with third space, hybridity, funds of knowledge, intertextuality, heteroglossia and multivoicedness -form a nest of interrelated theories which proved useful for examining writing for publication by non-native English speaking (NNES) academics in our own work (Barbosa-Trujillo 2015, Barbosa-Trujillo and Keranen 2015). The paper first orients the topic within the field of NNES scientific research writing then discusses the theoretical framework presented, first by pulling the strands apart to briefly describe each, then by showing how each strand works within the framework as a foundation for research.

‘If you don’t write yourself, on what grounds can you offer advice about writing to others?’ Perspectives on the importance of publishing by teachers of academic writing.

“…There is a growing body of recent literature investigating the experiences of publication by L2 writers (Armstrong 2015, Keranen, Barbosa-Trujillo and Encinas-Prudencio 2016, Lillis and Curry 2010, Luo and Hyland 2016, Yuan 2017. These studies highlight the difficulty of writing for publication in English, particularly for novice writers who have much to overcome to succeed, and need the help of others such as translators and language teachers.…”