A corpus-based examination of English if-conditionals through the lens of modality : nature and types
The motivation for this study is two-pronged. A number of studies on modality or conditionals have put forward the claim that conditionality, and conditionals, have a special relationship with modality. However, this claim has not been empirically investigated, or established quantitatively, nor has the nature of this relationship been examined. Furthermore, although existing classifications of conditionals take account of modal marking, they do not do so consistently, nor do they take account of all modality types. This study, therefore, examines the relation of conditionals to modality using the written BNC, and develops two complementary metrics for the extent of modal marking (modal load): modal density and modalisation spread. It establishes the modal load in a random sample of if-conditionals, and compares it to that of written English, as well as other conditionals, and a number of non-conditional bi-partite constructions. The examination also compares the modal load in different types of if-conditionals, and their two parts (protasis and apodosis), and motivates the development of a typology of ifconditionals. Finally, the study examines the modal nature of if-conditionals in light of two current theories,
Gabrielatos, Costas
corpus linguistics ; corpus methodology ; modality ; conditionals ; construction grammar ; lexical grammar ; mental spaces ; typology ; qubits
A corpus-based examination of English if-conditionals through the lens of modality : nature and types. The motivation for this study is two-pronged. A number of studies on modality or conditionals have put forward the claim that conditionality, and conditionals, have a special relationship with modality. However, this claim has not been empirically investigated, or established quantitatively, nor has the nature of this relationship been examined. Furthermore, although existing classifications of conditionals take account of modal marking, they do not do so consistently, nor do they take account of all modality types. This study, therefore, examines the relation of conditionals to modality using the written BNC, and develops two complementary metrics for the extent of modal marking (modal load): modal density and modalisation spread. It establishes the modal load in a random sample of if-conditionals, and compares it to that of written English, as well as other conditionals, and a number of non-conditional bi-partite constructions. The examination also compares the modal load in different types of if-conditionals, and their two parts (protasis and apodosis), and motivates the development of a typology of ifconditionals. Finally, the study examines the modal nature of if-conditionals in light of two current theories,
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