Evaluation in English earnings conference calls: a corpus-assisted contrastive study

Abstract

Abstract An earnings conference call is a hybrid genre of reporting and promotional discourses in which evaluation plays an important role. Using data from two self-built corpora, this study aims to explore the frequency and functions of evaluation in English earnings conference calls issued by Chinese companies and international companies. Using the computer software package Wmatrix, we carried out a key semantic domains analysis and keywords analysis of the data. The major findings of the analyses are as follows: First, the four parameters of evaluation receive different degrees of importance in earnings conference calls. Second, in earnings conference calls evaluation performs three inter-related functions: as an image promotion strategy, as a speaker identity indexing strategy, and as metadiscourse. Third, although there are similarities, speakers of Chinese companies deviate from their international counterparts in using evaluative language during the calls in aspects of parameters and word choice. Possible reasons for these similarities and differences are discussed with reference to the functions of evaluation in the call as a hybrid genre, genre awareness, and cultural influences.