Defining Modality in Language - Essay Example

Modality Communication can be considered as one of the most important concepts and even acts through the of history of civilization. Every type of organisms is in need of a distinct mode of communication. Upon the study of the said concept, modality can be considered as a fundamental requirement. Defining Modality Modality can be considered as the logic of language and any means of communication even action. This can be attributed to the fact that different mode of communication can be considered to have logic for understanding and thus modality. The said concept is used to be able to analyze the messages being conveyed by the writers or the speakers. In the modality of language both the audio-vocal and the visual-gestural modality are important (Cheek, Knapp and Rathmann 1). Based on the study regarding the concept of modality, it can “informally be regarded as ‘comment’ or ‘attitude’ ... explicit or implicit in the linguistic stance taken by the reader/writer” (Fowler 85). By the said statement then, the author takes responsibility in the outcome of the statement based on the fact that written statements can present feelings and stance of the writer in addition to the basic meaning of the statement. For that statements can be classified into different forms on the basis of the attitude it can present. This attitude is based on the construction of the statements and the use of the terms. The said area can be captured by the concept of modality that clearly takes into consideration the use of words specifically the verbs to be able to present and achieve the target feeling of the reader. Modality can be expressed through the choice of words in the English language. One of the most fundamental ways to be able to express modality is the use of verbs in statement which can be basically expressed through transitivity and other word classes. A. Modality through Transitivity Transitivity deals with the used of the verb system. There are two types of transitivity that can be used to be able to present the main idea of the author. These are the transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs can be considered as the normal action words that describe a particular deed and are commonly used to present an object of the action undertaken. On the other hand, an intransitive verb does not need to express the object of the action done or the fact presented (Hewings 56). To be able to present the importance of the use of words the following statements can be studied. a. The audience applauded and praised the play. b. The play was applauded and praised by the audience. c. The play way applauded and praised. The presented statements are used on different situations on the basis of the mood and the atmosphere that is needed to be presented by the author. This can be attributed to be covered by the concept of modality on the basis that the words are used based on the goal of the author. Other important groups that can be classified on the basis of transitivity are the ergatives that can be used both in the transitive and intransitive ways. These can be shown through the following examples (Hewings 57). a. A hundred paintings exhibited a single cause in celebration of the Visual Arts Month. b. The painters exhibited a hundred paintings to present the charitable cause in the celebration. B. Modality Another group of words that are essential in the expression of the thought and ideas are the pronouns. The said group of words are important in stressing the target audience. The pronouns have the capability to bring about interpersonal connection as the verb system and the other word groups that are considered of importance. The said group of words has the capacity of projecting the inclusion or the exclusion of the people and the audience in the statements and comments being presented (Hewings 64). a. The perpetrators of terrorism are considered to have committed an unforgivable crime against our countrymen and they cannot be allowed in a nation they had disowned. b. We, as human beings should work hard in saving the environment. In the first statement the use of the personal pronoun ‘they’ presented detachment due to the fact that the subject is involved in committing crimes. The ‘our’ and the ‘we’ on the other hand is aimed to present the owning or association. Through the use of the said pronoun greater stress can be achieved regarding the connection of the author and the audience. C. Modality through Prepositions The main objective in the concept of modality is the presentation and the achievement of the needed stress and the conveying of the needed message. This can be referred to as the stance of the text or the published work. There are different was to be able to accomplish such stance. One and considered as the most essential presentation of modality is through the use of prepositions. Such word group can be considered to improve on the meaning and modify the words that they accompany, such as the verb and action words. Modality can then be defined through the use modal verbs, semi-modals, and other words that can express modal meanings such as adjectives, adverbs and even nouns (Hewings 66). Modal verbs : may, can, could, will, should Semi-modals : have to, be going to, have got to Other modal words : probably, probably, probability, possibly, possible, possibility There are 2 major types of modality namely epistemic and deontic modality. Epistemic modality can be considered as a statement presenting the opinion of the author on a particular situation. The common expressions used for the epistemic modality are likely, may, and quite clear (Hewings 66). a. The climate change is likely to create drastic environmental conditions in the coming years. b. It is quite clear that the investors have very little interest in the offer of the company. The deontic modality on the other hand is involved is mainly based on some form of fact in relation to human capabilities and actions which is expressed through the use of the prepositions such as cannot, must and necessary. a. Though the student cannot understand the lesson, he tried to process the assignment that had been given. b. The farm must be cultivated to supply for the food demand of the country. The presented parts of the grammar and speech are considered to be the fundamental components in the presentation of the modality and the modal meaning of the written works by authors. To be able to better understand, it is important to apply the said concepts through the analysis of published texts of different forms and of different objectives that target varying audiences. Analysis on the Application of Modality There are different ways in the analysis of the published text. Such ways include the determination of the possible intention of the author, the target audience and the modal logic which can be recognized as presenting a truth, an obligation, form of permission or a comment on the desirability (Fowler 85). One of the forms of text that can be analyzed is the speeches, which are made with an evident intent. In the speech of Mark Twain on the Votes for Woman (Appendix I), he was able to present his opinions by using the atmosphere that is in union with the public. “We are all creatures of sudden impulse. We must be worked up by steam, as it were. Get them to write their wills now, or it may be too late by-and-by.” Votes for Women by Mark Twain The pronoun ‘we’ had been used to connect to the audience and present oneness with their aspirations and goals. In the second statement the preposition ‘must’ had been used to present deontic modality. In addition, the speech is presented on the note of stating the opinion of the writer/speaker but veiled by the intent to present an obligation thus it has a power to persuade the audience. Thus is based on the connection and interpersonal feelings that the author’s desires are the people’s desires too. Another example is the presentation of a probable fact through a science editorial news item in the BBC website (Appendix II). “Runaway global warming is in fact a distinct possibility, given the many routes for positive feedback that have already been identified. The rapid thawing and release of large frozen methane hydrate deposits in the North Sea and elsewhere could result in just such runaway warming.” Source: (Reay 1) The first statement is presented though intransitive verb ‘is’ and the modal word ‘possibility’ is used. This expresses a hint yet gives stress to the action by presenting the term ‘possibility’ and conveying the fact that the audience can still do something if the presented notion is unacceptable for them. In addition the second statement used the modal term ‘could’ stressing the verb ‘result’ and still have the same objective of triggering action on the part of the audience. The presented examples are some of the common cases wherein modality in the English grammar can highlight the objectives of the written work. In addition to the presentation of the insight of the authors, modality of the English language can be used to achieve goals and even provoke action from the readers and the audience. Conclusion The modality can be considered as one of the important tools in the language that can give power to the modes of communication. The modal concept can even explain what heroes and famous authors would always express that the pen is mightier than the sword. In any given part of history wherein the cooperation and union of the people can be observed, dig deeper and one can find a book, a poem or any form of published work that had been the source of the inspiration of the people. The use of words, the arrangement of terms and the presentation of a written and expressed work can inspire and move the people. It is the modality of the language. Thus, modality is the power of the author. Reference: Cheek, Adrianne, Heather Knapp and Christian Rathmann. Modality and Structure in Signed and Spoken Languages. Eds. Richard P. Meier, Kearsy Cormier and David Quinto-Pozos. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Fowler, R. Language in the News – Discourse and Ideology in the Press. Routledge, 1991. Hewings, Ann. Grammar and Context: An Advanced Resourse Book. Routledge 2005. Plantinga, Alvin. Essays in the Metaphysics of Modality. Ed. Matthew Davidson. New York, 2003. Reay, Dave. Odds On Global Warming. 13 January 2003. BBC.CO.UK Website. 06 May 2008 . Wodak, Ruth and Brigitta Busch. “Approaches to Media Texts.” Prolegomena. By John Downing. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, 2004: 105-122. Appendices I. Votes for Women Speech by Mark Twain Ladies and Gentlemen - It is a small help that I can afford, but it is just such help that one can give as coming from the heart through the mouth. The report of Mr. Meyer was admirable, and I was as interested in it as you have been. Why, Im twice as old as he, and Ive had so much experience that I would say to him, when he makes his appeal for help: "Dont make it for today or tomorrow, but collect the money on the spot." We are all creatures of sudden impulse. We must be worked up by steam, as it were. Get them to write their wills now, or it may be too late by-and-by. Fifteen or twenty years ago I had an experience I shall never forget. I got into a church which was crowded by a sweltering and panting multitude. The city missionary of our town - Hartford - made a telling appeal for help. He told of personal experiences among the poor in cellars and top lofts requiring instances of devotion and help. The poor are always good to the poor. When a person with his millions gives a hundred thousand dollars it makes a great noise in the world, but he does not miss it; its the widows mite that makes no noise but does the best work. I remember on that occasion in the Hartford church the collection was being taken up. The appeal had so stirred me that I could hardly wait for the hat or plate to come my way. I had four hundred dollars in my pocket, and I was anxious to drop it in the plate and wanted to borrow more. But the plate was so long in coming my way that the fever-heat of beneficence was going down lower and lower - going down at the rate of a hundred dollars a minute. The plate was passed too late. When it finally came to me, my enthusiasm had gone down so much that I kept my four hundred dollars - and stole a dime from the plate. So, you see, time sometimes leads to crime. Oh, many a time have I thought of that and regretted it, and I adjure you all to give while the fever is on you. Referring to womans sphere in life, Ill say that woman is always right. For twenty-five years Ive been a womans rights man. I have always believed, long before my mother died, that, with her gray hairs and admirable intellect, perhaps she knew as much as I did. Perhaps she knew as much about voting as I. I should like to see the time come when women shall help to make the laws. I should like to see that whiplash, the ballot, in the hands of women. As for this citys government, I dont want to say much, except that it is a shame - a shame; but if I should live twenty-five years longer - and there is no reason why I shouldnt - I think Ill see women handle the ballot. If women had the ballot to-day, the state of things in this town would not exist. If all the women in this town had a vote today they would elect a mayor at the next election, and they would rise in their might and change the awful state of things now existing here. II. Odds On Global Warming Dave Reay 13 January 2003 Lets face it, the future is full of uncertainty. However, if I were a gambling man, I would bet on global warming becoming one of the greatest threats to humankind as this century progresses. Though the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) models predict a range of climate change outcomes for the year 2020, the possibility of major catastrophic climate change is specifically acknowledged by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of their precautionary principle. This precautionary principle is used under the auspices of the UNFCCC to help justify immediate action to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as that outlined in the Kyoto protocol. The commonly cited economic argument against GHG reduction strategies, such as those of the Kyoto protocol, hinges on the financial cost of climatic change being less than that of mitigation. However, this argument takes no account of the possibility of catastrophic climate change events and essentially banks on a slow and predictable rise in global temperature. Runaway global warming is in fact a distinct possibility, given the many routes for positive feedback that have already been identified. The rapid thawing and release of large frozen methane hydrate deposits in the North Sea and elsewhere could result in just such runaway warming. Tsunami strikes on our east coast, caused by the Storegga slides off Norway around 10,000 years ago, have been attributed to these large releases of methane hydrate in response to rising sea temperatures (New Scientist, 27th February 2002). As a greenhouse gas scientist, I am used to pessimistic predictions of future climate change and like to take a balanced view. However, as Im not a gambling man, I now live several hundred metres above sea level. Read More