The use of modal auxiliaries in texts : a semantic analysis /
This study aimed to investigate whether modal auxiliaries denote discrete semantic categories, or relational value of vague probabilities. In order to answer the research questions, authentic language texts from TESOL journals between 2012 and 2013 were analysed. From the selected texts, 528 occurre...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kuala Lumpur :
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia,
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Click here to view 1st 24 pages of the thesis. Members can view fulltext at the specified PCs in the library. |
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| Summary: | This study aimed to investigate whether modal auxiliaries denote discrete semantic categories, or relational value of vague probabilities. In order to answer the research questions, authentic language texts from TESOL journals between 2012 and 2013 were analysed. From the selected texts, 528 occurrences of central modal auxiliaries were found. The data were analyzed using the analytical framework of Columbia School of Linguistics (CSL). The first template adhering to CSL framework tested the contextual dependency of each modal auxiliary in expressing the semantic categories, whereas the second template was utilized to rate the approximate probabilities of each occurrence. Descriptive statistics, along with textual analysis, was employed in analyzing the data. The findings reveal that the modal auxiliaries were contextually dependent in expressing the discrete semantic categories, and therefore they do not denote these categories. However, they do denote relational values of vague probabilities which can be placed in a hierarchical order with the highest member indicating high probability value and the lowest indicating low certainty of an event taking place or a proposition being carried out. This supports Huffman's (1989) observations as illustrated in his scale of probability model. The qualitative textual analysis suggests that there is an intangible and abstract link between the discrete semantic categories and the relational values. In fact, the semantic categories are identified to be indirect strategies that relate transparently to the scale of probability. This study recommends the incorporation of the scale of probability and its relation to the semantic senses in textbooks and teaching. Future research can study the use of modal auxiliaries in different genres and varieties of English, and attempt to refine the scale by analyzing more data. |
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| Item Description: | Abstracts in English and Arabic. " A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Science in English Language Studies."--On t.p. |
| Physical Description: | xii, 91 leaves : ill. ; 30cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-89) |