Modality and the V wh pattern
Research into modality has tended to focus on modal auxiliary verbs (modals) at the expense of other forms that may express modal meaning. This thesis takes a phraseological, exploratory approach to the investigation of modal meaning by focusing on modal expressions with verbs with wh-clause complementation (the V wh pattern). The approach first tests the hypothesis that the pattern is associated with markers of modal meaning and then goes on to conduct a concordance analysis of samples of frequently-occurring V wh verbs taken from the British National Corpus. This analysis first categorizes these verbs into semantic sets and then explores which realizations of different types of modal meaning â obligation, volition, potential, and uncertainty â are most often found with verbs in particular sets. The presentation of the results of this analysis also involves a discussion of how exponents of modal meaning other than modals extend the range of expression available to users of English, indicating what an exclusive focus on modals will tend to overlook.
Vincent, Benet Donald
PE English
Modality and the V wh pattern. Research into modality has tended to focus on modal auxiliary verbs (modals) at the expense of other forms that may express modal meaning. This thesis takes a phraseological, exploratory approach to the investigation of modal meaning by focusing on modal expressions with verbs with wh-clause complementation (the V wh pattern). The approach first tests the hypothesis that the pattern is associated with markers of modal meaning and then goes on to conduct a concordance analysis of samples of frequently-occurring V wh verbs taken from the British National Corpus. This analysis first categorizes these verbs into semantic sets and then explores which realizations of different types of modal meaning â obligation, volition, potential, and uncertainty â are most often found with verbs in particular sets. The presentation of the results of this analysis also involves a discussion of how exponents of modal meaning other than modals extend the range of expression available to users of English, indicating what an exclusive focus on modals will tend to overlook.
modality pattern modality tend_focus modal_auxiliary verb modal expense form may express modal meaning take phraseological exploratory investigation modal mean focus modal_expression verbs clause complementation pattern first test_hypothesis pattern associate marker modal meaning conduct concordance analysis sample frequently occurring verb take british_national_corpus analysis first categorize verbs semantic set_explore realization different_type modal mean obligation volition potential uncertainty often find verb particular set presentation analysis also_involve discussion exponent modal mean modal extend range expression available user english indicate exclusive focus modal tend overlook