“Arguments That Could Possibly Be Urged”: Modal Verbs and Tentativeness in the Coruña Corpus

Isabel Moskowich,Begoña Crespo

doi:10.3390/languages4030057

Abstract

This paper complements previous research into the late Modern English scientific writing uses of the adverbs possibly and perhaps as manifestations of either subjectivity or intersubjectivity, as presented in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing. In order to have a better understanding of the uses of these adverbs as markers of tentativeness, we will explore their syntagmatic relations with modal verbs. It is widely assumed that scientific discourse has an objective nature, although it has been questioned by its use of hedging and other expressions of stance. In the present study, we will assess how modal verbs accompanying these stance adverbs modulate the expression of tentativeness. The use of stance adverbs shows authorial presence and a covert interaction with the reader. The paper examines different degrees of hesitancy depending on the type of modal verb accompanying these adverbs. The analysis has been carried out on four subcorpora of the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing. Our findings will be presented from a more general to a more detailed account for each of the forms under investigation and interpreted taking into account the variables ‘date of publication’ and ‘genre’ for the text, and ‘sex’ for the author.

Highlights

This paper aims to complement previous research into the uses of the adverbs possibly and perhaps as manifestations of either subjectivity or intersubjectivity, looking at late Modern English scientific writing, as presented in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing
We will continue our description of late Modern English scientific writing by assessing how the modal verbs accompanying these stance adverbs can modulate the expression of tentativeness
This analysis of the adverbs is enhanced when the accompanying modal verbs are taken into account

Summary

Introduction

This paper aims to complement previous research into the uses of the adverbs possibly and perhaps as manifestations of either subjectivity or intersubjectivity, looking at late Modern English scientific writing, as presented in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing.In the current study, we will be using the same material. This paper aims to complement previous research into the uses of the adverbs possibly and perhaps as manifestations of either subjectivity or intersubjectivity, looking at late Modern English scientific writing, as presented in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing. We will continue our description of late Modern English scientific writing by assessing how the modal verbs accompanying these stance adverbs can modulate the expression of tentativeness. Perhaps and possibly both indicate an author’s desire to show tentativeness and uncertainty, as well as being devices that seek the reading public’s involvement in the presentation of content (Seoane Posse 2016). The use of stance adverbs of this kind shows authorial presence, and demonstrates a covert interaction with the reader, which makes these texts more engaging for the latter

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