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Abstract

Authorial voice has been recognised as an essential aspect of writing, prompting increased efforts to interpret this complex concept (Cheung & Lau, 2020; Mhilli, 2020; Mhilli, 2023; Zabihi & Bayan, 2020; Zhao & Liu, 2021). The most recent literature on voice in writing defines voice as the author’s identity reflected in text (Naimmah Hamdan & Ahmad, 2023; Mhilli, 2023). However, the question of which linguistic features mark voice in text remains contested, as existing empirical studies identify a wide range of possible linguistic realisations of authorial voice in writing (Stock & Eik-Nes, 2016). While this variety of markers reflects the concept’s complexity (Mhilli, 2023), it also poses challenges, particularly in contexts such as linguistic analysis and teaching, where voice needs to be clearly operationalised. This scoping review addresses this gap through a systematic mapping of the complex landscape of linguistic realisations of textual voice in recent empirical research. The findings highlight the crucial role analytical frameworks play in determining the choice of voice markers for textual analysis. The findings indicate that the analytical frameworks used in recent empirical studies range from unfocused to narrowly focused. The findings also indicate that the implementation of comprehensive and manageable functional frameworks with specific categorisations of voice markers enables more informed and rigorous analysis of the complex and dynamic concept of authorial voice in writing. This scoping literature review has implications for future research, advocating for a refinement of research methodologies in textual voice analysis. It also informs evidence-based educational practices, advancing the understanding of authorial voice as an explicitly teachable objective integrated into writing instruction and curricula.

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2026-05-26
2026-06-07

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/content/journals/10.1075/aral.25086.mhi
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Voice markers in writing
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.25086.mhi
/content/journals/10.1075/aral.25086.mhi
/content/journals/10.1075/aral.25086.mhi
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: stance ; writer’s voice ; writer’s identity ; markers of voice ; engagement ; authorial voice

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