Finnish writers' academic English: Problems with reference and theme

The paper illustrates how many Finnish writers tend to have difficulties coding references to text participants appropriately in their English texts. When organising their texts thematically, Finnish writers also appear to apply thematic patterns which are not typical of English texts. In addition, Finnish writers do not seem to utilise the possibilities of the interplay between the REFERENCE and THEME systems at their textual optimum. The insights into the textual analysis of FL-scientific writing presented here may prove useful when applied linguists are facing the challenge of designing courses for academic writing in a foreign language, courses which will develop learners' consciousness and linguistic skills in organising information in texts in a way which is referentially and thematically cohesive.