The Transformation of Subjective and Objective Modality in English News 
Discourse from the Global Perspective——taking the US Media Reports on Japan’s Discharge of Nuclear Waste 
Water into the Sea as the Example

Xinxi Xu

doi:10.18686/ahe.v5i6.3752

The Transformation of Subjective and Objective Modality in English News Discourse from the Global Perspective——taking the US Media Reports on Japan’s Discharge of Nuclear Waste Water into the Sea as the Example

Xinxi Xu

Abstract

Modality system, an important part of the interpersonal function of discourse, is generally used to indicate the
author’s cognition and attitude, which contributes the basic representation of subjectivization. Meanwhile, news discourse
generally emphasizes the objectivity principle and the author’s subjective standpoint and opinion should be avoided. As the
modality system may involve the modal meaning of objectivity in different contexts, it has the characteristic of
subjective-objective transformation in discourse. Therefore, the modality system in the news text can be used to hide the
author’s subjective ideology, but also can express its objectivity. Taking American media related reports on Japan’s nuclear
waste water discharge into the sea as examples, this thesis explores the subjective-objective transformation of modality
system in news reports.

Keywords

Modality System; News Discourse; Systemic Functional Linguistics

Full Text:

PDF

Included Database

References

[1] Shi G, Xin B. An analysis of modality system in American constitution. Foreign Languages Research 2008; (2): 55-59.

[2] Halliday, M. A. K. An Introduction to functional gramma. London: Edward Arnold 1994.

[3] Hu Z. An introduction to systemic functional linguistics. Peking University Press 2005.

[4] Shi G, Xin B. An analysis of modal system in American constitution. Foreign Languages Research 2008; (2): 55-59.

[5] Li J, Zhong Y. On the modality system of English and its functions. Foreign Language Teaching 2002; (1): 9-15.

[6] Tang J, Bai X. The understanding of the changes of subjective and objective modality and its mechanism. An analysis

from the perspective of subjectivity and subjectivization

[7] Lyons, J. Semantics. Cambridge :CUP 1977.

[8] Nuyts, J. Subjectivity as an evidential dimension in epistemic modal expressions. Journal of Pragmatics 2001; 33:

383-400.

[9] Li J. Modal meaning and modal auxiliary meaning. Foreign Languages (Journal of Shanghai International Studies

University); 1999; (4): 19-23.

[10] Chang C. An analysis of modal adjuncts as evaluation means. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching; 2008; (1): 11-13.

[11] Zhang G. Habermas interview. Foreign Literature Review; 2000; (1): 27-32.

[12] Xiong W. An analysis of discourse bias in cross-cultural communication: a critical discourse analysis approach. Wuhan

University 2010.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/ahe.v5i6.3752

Refbacks

There are currently no refbacks.