Final Thoughts

The final chapter summarizes the findings of the book and underlines the relationship between linguistic features and elements of the context. This includes notably the difference in philosophical stance of the two communities where the English adopted a Baconian, and hence empirical position, whereas the French followed Cartesian, and hence deductive principles. Important also is the nature of the differing readerships of the two journals, where the French catered for the full range of intellectual tastes, whereas the English was restricted to those interested in science and technology. In addition, wider historical factors such as military hostilities made have played some part.