An Analysis of Explicit Subjective Modality Metaphors in Discussion Section of Linguistics Research Articles

Abstract

Based on Halliday's theory of Grammatical Metaphor in Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL), this paper delves into the distribution features as well as interpersonal meanings of modality metaphor in discussion section of Linguistics Research Articles (RAs). The discussion sections of 60 RAs in Applied Linguistics (2016-2020) were selected and the classification of explicit subjective modality metaphor from Halliday & Matthiessen, Huang and Fan was adopted in current study. The results show that epistemic modality metaphors take up the highest proportion in explicit subjective modality metaphor (84.8%), followed by boulomaic, evaluative and evidential modality metaphors. The reasons for this discrepancy are explained from the scientificity and objectivity of academic discourse and the multiple interpersonal meanings of epistemic modality in terms of raising different or supplementary viewpoints in a conciliatory way and strengthening negotiation between writers and readers.