Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Scope of the Study 1
1.2 Modal Adjunct in a Cross-Cultural Perspective 2
1.3 Rationale and Objective 4
1.4 Overview of Methodology 5
1.5 Book Organization 5
Chapter 2 Literature Review 7
2.1 Modal Adjunct 7
2.1.1 Meaning 7
2.1.2 Structure 17
2.1.3 Function in information structure 22
2.2 Sociolinguistic Perspectives to Modality 31
2.2.1 Sociopragmatic perspective 31
2.2.2 Variationist perspective 34
2.2.3 Cross-cultural perspective 35
2.3 Cross-Cultural Differences in English Language Use 35
2.4 American-Chinese Cultural Differences in Language Use 42
2.5 Summary 46
Chapter 3 Methodology 48
3.1 Research Questions 48
3.2 Operational Definitions 49
3.3 Theoretical Framework 50
3.3.1 The framework 50
3.3.1.1 Face systems 51
3.3.1.2 Solidarity face system 52
3.3.1.3 Involvement 54
3.3.1.4 Note on application 56
3.3.2 Advantage of the framework 57
3.3.2.1 Theoretical foundation 57
3.3.2.2 Analytic validity 61
3.4 Data Collection and Analysis 64
3.4.1 Nature of the data 64
3.4.2 Data collection 68
3.4.3 Data analysis 70
3.4.3.1 Structural analysis 71
3.4.3.2 Semantic considerations 77
Chapter 4 Results 80
4.1 General Results 80
4.1.1 Overall distribution of modal adjunct 80
4.1.2 General difference 83
4.2 Differences Along Semantic Categorization of Modal Adjunct 85
4.2.1 Broad sets of modal adjunct 85
4.2.2 Subsets of modal adjunct 87
4.2.3 Interim summary 94
4.3 General Interpretation 94
4.3.1 English proficiency 95
4.3.2 Sociopolitical context 96
4.3.3 Cultural background 96
Chapter 5 Interpretation and Discussion 98
5.1 Functional Analysis of Modal Adjunct 98
5.1.1 Information function 99
5.1.2 Involvement function 103
5.2 Functional Interpretation of the Differences 108
5.2.1 The use of modal adjunct of extent 108
5.2.2 The use of modal adjunct of focalization 113
5.2.3 The use of modal adjunct of certainty 116
5.2.4 The use of modal adjunct of comment 120
5.2.5 The use of modal adjunct of exclamation 125
5.2.6 The use of the other subsets of modal adjunct 129
5.2.7 Interim summary 135
5.3 Discussion of the Difference in Solidarity Face System 138
5.4 Theoretical Discussion 141
Chapter 6 Conclusion 145
6.1 Summary of the Study 145
6.2 Implications 147
6.3 Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research 149
References 151
Appendix A Sources of Linguistic Data 171
Appendix B Sample Texts 186
Appendix C List of Identified Modal Adjuncts 190
Index 197