Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Preliminary remarks 1
1.2 Terminology 3
1.3 Rationale of the research 4
1.4 Research objectives 6
1.5 Research questions 8
1.6 Organization of the book 8
Chapter 2 Literature Review 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Previous studies of evaluation 10
2.3 Evaluation in BRs:a brief review 18
2.4 Summary 30
Chapter 3 A Description of the Conceptual Framework 32
3.1 Introduction 32
3.2 The conceptual construct of evaluation 32
3.2.1 The concept of evaluation 33
3.2.2 Elements of structural relationships in evaluation 35
3.2.3 The system of evaluation process 42
3.2.4 A working definition of evaluation 44
3.3 Theoretical background:three perspectives on evaluation 45
3.3.1 The semantic perspective 45
3.3.1.1 Appraisal Theory 45
3.3.1.2 The parameter-based approach 50
3.3.2 The grammatical perspective 55
3.3.3 The pragmatic perspective 58
3.4 Construing the present theoretical model 60
3.5 Summary 66
Chapter 4 Research Methodology 68
4.1 Introduction 68
4.2 Description of the corpus 68
4.3 Instruments 71
4.3.1 Collins Cobuild 3.1.0 71
4.3.2 CorpusTool 1.1 72
4.3.3 AntConc 3.2.0 74
4.4 Analytical procedures 76
4.5 Summary 78
Chapter 5 Semantics of Evaluation in BRs:Parameters and Modifications 79
5.1 Introduction 79
5.2 Basic concepts 80
5.2.1 Evaluative parameters 80
5.2.2 Polarity 80
5.2.3 Explicitness/Implicitness 81
5.2.4 Modification 83
5.3 Evaluative parameters in BRs 83
5.3.1 Evaluative parameters:foundational considerations 83
5.3.2 Evaluative parameters:the coding scheme 88
5.3.3 Evaluative interplay 95
5.3.4 Evaluative parameters in the corpus 97
5.3.4.1 Emotivity 98
5.3.4.2 Expectedness 108
5.3.4.3 Possibility/Necessity 113
5.3.4.4 Reliability 115
5.3.4.5 Style 118
5.4 Modifications 120
5.4.1 Basic concepts 120
5.4.2 The coding scheme of modifications 122
5.4.3 Modifications in the corpus 124
5.4.3.1 Modifications of up-scale value 125
5.4.3.2 Modifications of down-scale value 132
5.5 Evaluation and the reviewer's gender:a comparison 136
5.6 Summary 140
Chapter 6 Lexico-grammatical Patterns of Evaluation in BRs 143
6.1 Introduction 143
6.2 Lexical realizations of evaluation in BRs 143
6.2.1 Lexical realizations of parameters 144
6.2.1.1 Emotivity 144
6.2.1.2 Expectedness 147
6.2.1.3 Possibility/Necessity 148
6.2.1.4 Reliability 149
6.2.1.5 Style 150
6.2.2 Lexical realizations of modifications 151
6.3 Grammatical patterns of evaluation in BRs 152
6.3.1 Basic patterns of Affect 153
6.3.2 Basic patterns of Judgment 160
6.3.3 Basic patterns of Appreciation 164
6.4 Summary 181
Chapter 7 Pragmatic Strategies of Evaluation in BRs 183
7.1 Introduction 183
7.2 Basic natures of BRs 183
7.2.1 Objective 184
7.2.2 Evaluative 186
7.3 Politeness strategies in the corpus 188
7.3.1 Modeling tenor variables:the audience of BRs 188
7.3.2 Politeness theory:the face model 191
7.3.3 Politeness strategies:an exploration of the corpus 194
7.3.3.1 Positive politeness strategies 195
7.3.3.1.1 Strengthening positive evaluations 196
7.3.3.1.2 Mitigating negative evaluations 202
7.3.3.1.3 Showing sympathy with or forgiveness of the shortcomings 210
7.3.3.2 Negative politeness strategies in the corpus 212
7.4 Objectivity strategies in the corpus 214
7.4.1 Impersonal constructions 214
7.4.2 Evaluative justifications 216
7.5 Summary 219
Chapter 8 Conclusion 221
8.1 Summary of major findings 221
8.2 Implications 224
8.3 Limitations and suggestions for future research 226
Bibliography 228