Semantic and Pragmatic Analysis of Adverbial Clauses of Reason in Applied Linguistics Research: The Case of Because and Since

Authors

  • Abhinan Wongkittiporn

    English for Business Communication Department, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Management Sciences, Prince of Songkla University Surat Thani Campus, Surat Thani 84000, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11135
Received: 18 July 2025 | Revised: 13 August 2025 | Accepted: 21 August 2025 | Published Online: 16 October 2025

Abstract

As a lecturer in the subject of research methodology for Thai EFL learners, they face difficulties in explaining reasons in methodology sections and using the English language to explain reasons. To alleviate this problem, the current study investigates information packaging and factual clauses in reason adjuncts in applied linguistics research methodology. To investigate the factual clauses with the synonyms because and since, the data collection used a purposive sampling method. After checking the SCOPUS website, Journal of English for Specific Purposes and Journal of English for Academic Purposes have similarity at 82 percent. The data analysis used SPSS version 29 called Pearson Correlation to seek relationships between two variables. The results show that there is a statistically significant relationship between factual clauses and adverbial clauses of reasons in the textual analysis of applied linguistics research methodology. The p-value is reported at 0.032. This explains that the similarities of 82 percent in Q1 SCOPUS Journal of English for Specific Purposes and Journal of English for Academic Purposes could refer to their reliability and validity of scientific reasons in research methodology. Even though the connectors because and since are near-synonymous, this study found the newest sense of the connector since to explain its difference from the connector because. The use of the adverbial clauses of reason in the left edge is explained by the pragmatic discourse of givenness. It is suggested that further investigation could lead to the codification of the newest sense of the connector since into the dictionary.

Keywords:

Adjuncts of Reason; Applied Linguistics Research; Non-Factuality; Quantitative Study; Pearson Correlation; Semantics; Synonym

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How to Cite

Wongkittiporn, A. (2025). Semantic and Pragmatic Analysis of Adverbial Clauses of Reason in Applied Linguistics Research: The Case of Because and Since. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(10), 1311–1324. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11135

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 10 (October 2025)

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Abhinan Wongkittiporn

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