Modality and Generic Features: A Corpus-based Study
As modality may be realized morphologically or by free-standing words, modals are flexible in meanings under various contexts. This study employs corpus analysis techniques to reveal the characteristics of modality in academic papers and newspaper editorials, and then compares Chinese students essays with these two genres. Findings of the study indicate: (1) Academic papers show more consultative tendencies and analytical features with the use of can, may; (2) Newspaper editorials present de facto judgments over issues, while foregrounding high modality value. (3) Chinese Students, when asked to write argumentative essays, tend to follow some generic features of editorials. They also have negative transfer in the use of should and can, which is not typical in both academic writing and editorials. Such preference for deontic modality reflects a limited knowledge of genre and a lack of fair consideration about different voices.
academic editorials genre modality
ZHENG Qun
Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,University of the West of England, UK
国际会议
The 36th International Systemic Functional Congress(第36届国际系统功能语言学大会暨第十一届全国功能语言学研讨会ISFC36)
北京
英文
123-128
2009-07-14（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）