How Brazilian learners express modality through verbs and adverbs in their writing: a corpus-based study on n-grams

Abstract

RESUMOCom base na visão de modalidade do arcabouço teórico da sintaxe descritiva, este trabalho analisou um corpus de aprendizes em comparação com um corpus de falantes nativos do inglês com o objetivo de identifi car padrões diferenciados na expressão de valores modais. Para tanto, o estudo concentrou sua análise em n-grams contendo verbos modais e advérbios que expressam modalidade. Essa análise revelou a prevalência dos valores modais epistêmicos em ambos os corpora, bem como a existência de padrões distintos na expressão desse tipo de modalidade. No corpus de não-nativos, percebeu-se uma expressão mais restrita da modalidade quando comparada à do corpus de nativos. No corpus de nativos, houve uma prevalência de advérbios com sentido modalizador. Nessa comparação, percebeu-se também um uso diferenciado de alguns verbos modais. Este estudo pode contribuir para a área emergente dos estudos linguísticos de corpora e para a área da sintaxe, com possíveis implicações para o ensino de escrita acadêmica em inglês. ABSTRACTBased on the view of modality in the theoretical framework of descriptive syntax, this study examined a corpus of learners compared with a corpus of native speakers of English, aiming to identify different patterns of expression of modal meanings, particularly, adverbs and modal verbs. Therefore, the study focused its analysis on n-grams containing modal verbs and adverbs that express modality. This analysis revealed the prevalence of epistemic values in both corpora, and the existence of distinct patterns in the expression of this type of modality. In the non-native corpus, the expression of modality is restricted when compared to the native speakers'. In the corpus of native speakers, there was a prevalence of adverbs with modalizing meanings. In addition, learners tend to use some modal verbs differently. This study may contribute to the emerging fi eld of corpora linguistic studies as well as to the area of syntax, with possible implications for the teaching of academic writing in English.

Use of Stance Lexical Bundles by Turkish and Japanese EFL Learners and Native English Speakers in Academic Writing

“…Native speakers used obligation/direction and intention/prediction bundles more frequently than the EFL learners. The results are consistent with Tenuta et al (2012) that in their study they also found that native speakers used modals that denote intention/prediction and obligation/direction more frequently than the nonnative speakers.…”

Use of Modals as Stance Markers: A Corpus-Based Study on Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials

“…In fact, the use of modals is very common in different genres (see, e.g., Bista, 2009; He & Wang, 2012; Holmes, 1988; Hyland, 1994; Hyland, 1996; Mirahayuni, 2002; Molina, 2012; Moskowich & Crespo, 2019; Nartey & Yankson, 2014; Ngula, 2017; Orta, 2010; Siddique et al, 2019; Tenuta et al, 2015). Since a newspaper editorial is also a significant genre, it also contains modals, for example, the writers of editorials also make use of modals in editorials of world famous newspapers in general (see, e.g., Bonyadi, 2011; Fowler, 2013; Halliday, 1994; Lawal, 2015; Le, 2004; Ntsane, 2015; Qun, 2010; Trajkova, 2011) and Pakistani English newspapers in particular (see, e.g., Hayat & Juliana, 2016; Khalid, 2013; Sadia & Ghani, 2019).…”

“…Use of modals by editorial writers is also very common (see Bonyadi, 2011; Fowler, 2013; Halliday, 1994; Hayat & Juliana, 2016; Khalid, 2013; Lawal, 2015; Le, 2004; Ntsane, 2015; Qun, 2010; Sadia & Ghani, 2019; Trajkova, 2011). The use of modals in Pakistani English language newspapers is also very common, with the help of which the editorial writers express obligations, probabilities or pass judgements (Halliday, 1994), express beliefs and values (Fowler, 2013), show authorial interest with a particular colour or feel in the story giving an opinion about the truth of the propositions (Simpson, 1993), express necessity as well as possibility (Von Fintel, 2006), influence public opinion, cause the creation of authorial identity in the texts (Molina, 2012), cover the notions of necessity, obligation, permission, possibility, probability and volition (Tenuta et al, 2015), and express attitudes (Sadia & Ghani, 2019) while commenting, informing or reporting about different news events. These modalities which are the focus of the study create stance in the editorials due to which the editorials become full of personal beliefs as well as values (Fowler, 2013; Iwasaki & Yap, 2015; Orta, 2010) which influence the opinions of the readers, that is, the editorial writers use biased language (Timucin, 2010) about hard-hitting on local as well as national news about economy, health, politics and science (Newman & Levy, 2014 cited in Ricketson & Graham, 2018).…”

“…Different researchers have observed the use of modals as personal stance marking devices in different types of writing. Such as Hyland (1996) found its use in scientific writing; Holmes (1988) and Hyland (1994) observed its use in textbooks; He and Wang (2012) and Mirahayuni (2002) noted its use in non-native speakers’ (NNSs) academic writing and Tenuta et al (2015) investigated the use of modal verbs in English essays written by Brazilian native speakers. Similarly, Moskowich and Crespo (2019), Ngula (2017) and Orta (2010) discovered its use in research articles; Bista (2009) investigated its use in political discourse; Molina (2012) explored the use of modal verbs in maritime talk and text; and Nartey and Yankson (2014) discovered the use of modal verbs in political manifestos; and Siddique et al (2019) studied the use of modals in an autobiography.…”

“…Modality is a linguistic category of meaning which involves the expressions of necessity, obligation, permission, possibility, probability, and volition (Von Fintel, 2006; Sadia & Ghani, 2019; Tenuta et al, 2015)) and entails ‘the speaker’s judgement of the probabilities, or the obligations involved in what he is saying’ (Halliday, 1985, p. 356). In short, modality means an angle of telling, angle of vision or point of view of a writer which lends a particular colour or feel to a story which reflects ‘an attitude towards, or opinion about the truth of a proposition expressed by a sentence’ (Simpson, 1993, p. 47).…”