A Systemic Functional Study of Modality in Modern Chinese by Shu Yang

A Systemic Functional Study of Modality in Modern Chinese by Shu Yang

This book presents a systematic and relatively comprehensive account of the system of MODALITY in Modern Chinese and the functions that realizations of modality serve in the clause and clause complex. Grounded in SFL, the research begins by introducing the system of types of modality in Modern Chinese, investigating the subtypes of modality and their realizations. The study then explores the systems of Orientations that characterize the realization of modalization and modulation in Chinese. After establishing the complete system of modality in Modern Chinese, the research finally examines the functions that realizations of modality serve in the textual structure of the clause and in the clause complex. The study finds that the system of MODALITY is an important interpersonal clause system at the lexicogrammatical stratum of Chinese. There are two distinct types of modality in Chinese: modalization and modulation. Modalization concerns the assessment of probability of the proposition; modulation is concerned with the assessment of the proposal in terms of obligation, inclination, and ability. The systems of ORIENTATIONS make a basic distinction between subjective and objective modality, and between the explicit and implicit realizations.  

The research also reveals that in the thematic structure of the clause, realizations of modality can serve as the interpersonal Theme in the clause, in the information structure of the clause, realizations of modality can function as the unmarked information focus of the clause or introduce the marked information focus, and in the clause complex, realizations of modality can encode modal meanings and simultaneously construct clauses into a clause complex.  

Shu Yang received her joint Ph.D. degree in linguistics from Sun Yat-sen University and City University of Hong Kong. She is Associate Professor at South China Agricultural University. Her research interests focus on systemic functional linguistics, discourse analysis and foreign language teaching. She has published papers in journals such as Functions of Language and Annual Review of Functional Linguistics. She is currently working on two books on Modality.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9789811680229
ISBN 10	9811680221
Title	A Systemic Functional Study of Modality in Modern Chinese
Author	Shu Yang
Series	The Mak Halliday Library Functional Linguistics Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Springer Verlag, Singapore
Year published	2022-12-12
Number of pages	175
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.