A Systemic Functional Study of Modality in Modern Chinese

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.  

1   Introduction  

1.1  Preamble      

1.2  Background to the research  

1.3  Theoretical framework         

1.4  Research questions   

1.5  Data and methodology         

1.6  The organization of the book

 

2  Literature Review

2.1  Introduction  

2.2  Modality in English  

2.3  Modality in Modern Chinese

2.4  Modality in SFL       

2.4.1  Halliday (1985, 1994); Halliday & Matthiessen (2014)         

2.4.2  Thompson (1996, 2004, 2013)           

2.4.3  Martin (1990, 1992); Martin & White (2005); Martin & Rose (2007)

2.4.4  Fawcett (2008, forthcoming)  

2.4.5  Zhu (1985, 1996); Halliday & McDonald (2004); Li (2007) 

 

3  Systemic Functional Theory Revisited   

3.1  Introduction  

3.2  SFL as a general linguistic theory     

3.3  The “architecture” of language         

3.3.1  Stratification   

3.3.2  Instantiation    

3.3.3  Metafunction  

3.3.4  Axis (paradigmatic organization)        

3.3.5  Axis (syntagmatic organization)         

3.3.6  Rank   

3.4  Reasons for adopting the systemic functional approach       

3.5  Summary

 

4  A Short Overview of Chinese Lexicogrammar  

4.1 Introduction   

4.2 Interpersonal meaning – the system of MOOD         

4.3 Experiential meaning – the system of TRANSITIVITY       

4.4 Textual meaning – the system of THEME and INFORMATION    

4.5 Logical meaning – the systems of TAXIS and LOGICO-SEMANTIC TYPES      

 

5  The System of Types of Modality

5.1  Introduction  

5.2  Two major types of modality

5.3  Modulation   

5.3.1  Obligation      

5.3.2  Inclination      

5.3.3  Ability

5.4  Modalization: probability     

5.4.1  Certainty         

5.4.2  Median probability     

5.4.3  Possibility       

5.5  Usuality in Chinese

5.6  Summary      

 

6  The System of Realization of Types of Modality

6.1  Introduction  

6.2  Modalization: the system of ORIENTATIONS

6.3  Modulation: the system of ORIENTATION

6.4  The notion of “cline”

 

7  Realizations of Modality in the Textual Structure of Clause

7.1  Introduction  

7.2  Realizations of modality in the thematic structure    

7.2.1 Modal adverbs of probability as the interpersonal Theme       

7.2.2 ‘Modal clauses’ of probability as the interpersonal Theme      

7.3  Realizations of modality in the information structure

7.3.1 Modal verbs as the unmarked information focus

7.3.2 Modal verbs as the focus markers

7.4  Summary      

 

8  Realizations of Modality in the Clause Complex           

8.1  Introduction  

8.2  Realizations of modality functioning as the marker of expansion

8.2.1 Realizations of modality as the marker of exposition  

8.2.2 Realizations of modality as the marker of the alternative relation        

8.2.3 Realizations of modality as the marker of replacement

8.2.4 Realizations of modality as the marker of condition    

8.3  Summary      

 

9  Conclusion

9.1  Introduction

9.2  A summary of the major findings of the research     

9.2.1  The system of modality          

9.2.2  The functions that realizations of modality serve in the textual structure of the clause

9.2.3  The functions that realizations of modality serve in the clause complex

9.3  Implications of the present study      

9.4  Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future research

 

References

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.