Knowledge diffusion breeds technological innovation and promotes scientific development. In modern times, knowledge is disseminated in both the academic community and on social media. Despite a rich body of researches on factors influencing knowledge diffusion, they pay less attention to linguistic features and mechanisms behind different kinds of knowledge diffusion. To address the research gaps, this study empirically examined how linguistic features (lexical density, lexical sophistication, syntactic complexity, and cohesion) of scientific papers influenced their diffusion. Moreover, we compared the various roles of linguistic features in two knowledge diffusion mechanisms, that is, knowledge utilization and online attention. We first proposed our hypotheses based on the construction-integration model, attention theory, cognitive load theory, and social capital theory. Then, using normalized citation (NC) and normalized altmetric attention scores (NAAS) to measure knowledge utilization and online attention, respectively, regression models on full texts of research papers from PLoS were constructed to identify the effects of linguistic features on knowledge diffusion. Through delicate analyses, the inverted U-shaped relationships between lexical density/lexical sophistication and NC were identified. But cohesion/syntactic complexity had no statistically significant effect on NC. In addition, the U-shaped relationship between lexical density and NAAS, and the inverted U-shaped relationship between lexical sophistication and NAAS were verified. A positive relationship between cohesion/syntactic complexity and NAAS was also found. Then, to further discuss whether there are domain differences in the impact of linguistic features on knowledge diffusion, we conducted a heterogeneity analysis. On the theoretical front, this study provides fresh perspectives to knowledge management literature by incorporating linguistic features and to scientometrics literature by comparing the distinct effects of linguistic features on NC and NAAS. Additionally, this study extends the application of several theories including construction-integration model and cognitive load theory. On the practical front, this study offers insights into the sensible way of academic writing and knowledge promotion.

中文翻译：

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在线注意力与知识利用：探索科学论文的语言特征如何影响知识传播

知识扩散孕育技术创新，促进科学发展。在现代，知识在学术界和社交媒体上传播。尽管对影响知识传播的因素的研究非常丰富，但对不同类型知识传播背后的语言特征和机制的关注较少。为了弥补研究空白​​，本研究实证检验了科学论文的语言特征（词汇密度、词汇复杂度、句法复杂性和衔接）如何影响其传播。此外，我们还比较了语言特征在两种知识传播机制（即知识利用和在线注意力）中的各种作用。我们首先基于建构整合模型、注意力理论、认知负荷理论和社会资本理论提出了我们的假设。然后，分别使用归一化引文（NC）和归一化替代度量注意力分数（NAAS）来衡量知识利用率和在线注意力，构建公共图书馆研究论文全文的回归模型，以识别语言特征对知识扩散的影响。通过细致的分析，词汇密度/词汇复杂度与 NC 之间的倒 U 形关系被识别出来。但衔接/句法复杂性对 NC 没有显着影响。此外，还验证了词汇密度与NAAS之间的U形关系，以及词汇复杂度与NAAS之间的倒U形关系。还发现衔接/句法复杂性与 NAAS 之间存在正相关关系。然后，为了进一步讨论语言特征对知识扩散的影响是否存在领域差异，我们进行了异质性分析。在理论方面，本研究通过结合语言特征为知识管理文献提供了新的视角，并通过比较语言特征对 NC 和 NAAS 的不同影响为科学计量学文献提供了新的视角。此外，本研究扩展了包括建构整合模型和认知负荷理论在内的多种理论的应用。在实践方面，这项研究提供了对学术写作和知识推广的明智方式的见解。