A Study On Sentence-Final Modal Particles In Enshi Dialect:a Systemic Functional Perspective

This thesis sets out to make a study on six modal particles that are frequently used in sentence-final position in Enshi dialect, describing the interpersonal function of them. We will make a qualitative study by analyzing and comparing examples with modal particles in Enshi dialect to figure out what the roles modal particles play, do they function to realize mood types or what other meanings they express. The data was obtained by recording, and utterances with modal particles in the final position were then transcribed. By analyzing and comparing typical examples which was collected by recording, it is founded that:The modal particle-me shows a relatively high degree of certainty in declarative sentences, it also expresses speakers’surprise, anger or blame at the same time and it can realize interrogative mood when it is used in interrogative sentences with a median degree of modal value. When-sha is used in declarative sentences, it shows high certainty to proposition, and shows that speakers are more intimate to the listener. In interrogative sentences, it softens the commanding tone and expresses the speaker’s consultation, with a relatively low modulation value.-A shows high certainty in declarative (especially exclamative) sentences as well, expressing a strong emotion, and realize interrogative mood in interrogative sentences, strengthening the doubt. A high modulation value is expressed when it is used in imperative sentences. The modal particle-o shows certainty in declarative sentences, expressing the speaker’s attitudes of unwillingness and unhappiness. It can also realize interrogative mood in interrogative sentences and strengthens the doubt about the information and in imperative sentences, it expresses the care of the speaker as well as softens the commanding tone, with a median modulation value.-Man only occurs in interrogative sentences and realize interrogative mood.-Ma does not appear in interrogative sentences. In declarative sentences, it has a high degree of modal value and in imperatives it also softens the commanding tone and shows the speaker’s polite. To sum up, except-ma, the other five modal particles can realize interrogative mood. However, all the six modal particles express different attitudes of the speaker and different degrees of modal value. Therefore, we draw a conclusion that in Enshi dialect, some of the modal particles function to realize mood types (interrogative mood), but all the modal particles present certain modality meaning or the attitudinal towards the information or goods-and-services.