Modality and Generic Features: A Corpus-based Study

摘要

As modality may be realized morphologically or by free-standing words, modals are flexible in meanings under various contexts. This study employs corpus analysis techniques to reveal the characteristics of modality in academic papers and newspaper editorials, and then compares Chinese students' essays with these two genres. Findings of the study indicate: (1) Academic papers show more consultative tendencies and analytical features with the use of "can", "may"; (2) Newspaper editorials present de facto judgments over issues, while foregrounding high modality value. (3) Chinese Students, when asked to write argumentative essays, tend to follow some generic features of editorials. They also have negative transfer in the use of "should" and "can", which is not typical in both academic writing and editorials. Such preference for deontic modality reflects a limited knowledge of genre and a lack of fair consideration about different voices.