Stilwechsel als Indikator sozialer Differenzierung: illustriert an wissenschaftlichen Texten

The article deals with changes of style in texts of the German genre Einführung (student's textbook). These changes are not permanent but temporary and have the function to adjust the text to the primary target group - the students. The study shows that the changes of style are due to the conventional use of examples and citations in academic written texts, but very often style changes are the result of using stylistic patterns such as "to dialogize”, "to make academically”, "to simplify” etc. The use of colloquial language and the change of the interaction modality (from serious to jocular) are considered an intended deviation from the prototypical scientific style. In order to communicate effectively with the students, the author attempts to develop and establish a special close relationship to them. Style changes consequently serve as an indicator of reader selection and of social differentiation: the closer the relationship to the students, the greater the distance between author and scientific community.