| Modality, one of the most important parts in natural language, has long been a focus of interest in the studies of cognitivism, semantics and functional grammar. According to Halliday's Systemic-Functional Grammar, modality represents a crucial role, together with Mood, in realizing the interpersonal function which is the target of language evolution. Halliday (2000) holds that the natural language is designed to perform three metafunctions: experiential, interpersonal and textual functions. Modality is a key part in realizing interpersonal function and categorized to be degrees of probability, usuality, obligation and inclination.This thesis collects the fictional corpora and investigates the English and Chinese modal expressions indicating probability, which is mainly realized by modal operators (auxiliaries in Chinese), modal adjuncts (adverbs in Chinese) and other modal expressions as the interpersonal metaphor. It aims at locating the similarities and the differences in modality use between English and Chinese through a careful study of the modal expressions from three dimensions-modal realization, orientation and value. The statistics suggest that both the languages put priority to modal adjuncts, and the major differences are found in terms of modal realization and orientation.In addition, ample examples are extracted from the corpora, especially the two novels Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, to illustrate the contributions made by modality for probability in realizing the interpersonal metafunction. With the detailed analysis of modal expressions in both the original and translated versions of the certain fictions, this thesis also aims at the implications to modality interpretation and an all-round comprehension of modality in fictional discourse as depicting the characters and culture. Modality interpretation can be diversified and unrestrained by word categories; the context should be taken into consideration to realize the functions of language as a social semiotic.
|
PDF Full Text Request