List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Scope of the Study
1.2 Modal Adjunct in a Cross-Cultural
Perspective
1.3 Rationale and Objective
1.4 Overview of Methodology
1.5 Book Organization
Chapter 2 Literature Review
2.1 Modal Adjunct
2.1.1 Meaning
2.1.2 Structure
2.1.3 Function in information
structure
2.2 Sociolinguistic Perspectives to Modality
2.2.1 Sociopragmatic perspective
2.2.2 Variationist perspective
2.2.3 Cross cultural perspective
2.3 Cross-Cultural Differences in English Language
Use
2.4 American-Chinese Cultural Differences in Language
Use
2.5 Summary
Chapter 3 Methodology
3.1 Research Questions
3.2 Operational Definitions
3.3 Theoretical Framework
3.3.1 The framework
3.3.1.1 Face
systems
3.3.1.2 Solidarity face
system
3.3.1.3
Involvement
3.3.1.4 Note on
application
3.3.2 Advantage of the framework
3.3.2.1
Theoretical foundation
3.3.2.2 Analytic
validity
3.4 Data Collection and Analysis
3.4.1 Nature of the data
3.4.2 Data collection
3.4.3 Data analysis
3.4.3.1 Structural
analysis
3.4.3.2 Semantic
considerations
Chapter 4 Results
4.1 General Results
4.1.1 Overall distribution of modal
adjunct
4.1.2 General difference
4.2 Differences Along Semantic Categorization of
Modal Adjl
4.2.1 Broad sets of modal adjunct
4.2.2 Subsets of modal adjunct
4.2.3 Interim summary
4.3 General Interpretation
4.3.1 English proficiency
4.3.2 Sociopolitical context
4.3.3 Cultural background
Chapter 5 Interpretation and Discussion
5.1 Functional Analysis of Modal Adjunct
5.1.1 Information function
5.1.2 Involvement function
5.2 Functional Interpretation of the Differences
5.2.1 The use of modal adjunct of
extent
5.2.2 The use of modal adjunct of
focalization
5.2.3 The use of modal adjunct of
certainty
5.2.4 The use of modal adjunct of
comment
5.2.5 The use of modal adjunct of
exclamation
5.2.6 The use of the other subsets of
modal adjunct
5.2.7 Interim summary
5.3 Discussion of the Difference in Solidarity Face
System
5.4 Theoretical Discussion
Chapter 6 Conclusion
6.1 Summary of the Study
6.2 Implications
6.3 Limitations and Suggestions for Future
Research
References
Appendix A Sources of Linguistic Data
Appendix B Sample Texts
Appendix C List of Identified ModalAdjuncts
Index