Intertextuality and plagiarism

Intertextuality is a pervasive feature of academic texts and arises in many forms. It is perhaps most conspicuous in references to other sources; such references are found in the preponderance of written academic genres. In addition, the highly conventional nature of much academic discourse creates a web of less direct ties among works with a common purpose, intended readership, etc. These indirect ties—or rather the textual characteristics which result from them—are seldom if ever explicitly acknowledged. References, on the other hand, constitute explicit signals of direct intertextual relationships, and it is a widespread expectation that such explicit signals of acknowledgement will be provided. When they are not, the result is an unconventional relationship which is frequently labelled ‘plagiarism’ and is castigated as a violation of academic integrity. This chapter reviews the rather disparate strands of research on intertextuality and plagiarism with relevance for English for Academic Purposes. It concludes with recommendations for further research and for teaching practice.