Modality in Systemic Functional Linguistics

Modality in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) is a complex and multifaceted concept that pertains to the ways in which speakers express attitudes, judgments, and assessments about the reality or likelihood of the situations they describe. In SFL, modality is integral to understanding how language functions to convey various degrees of certainty, obligation, and necessity, among other modal meanings (Nuyts, 2014).

1. Dynamic Modality

Dynamic modality involves expressions of ability, capacity, or necessity related to the subject's inherent or situational characteristics. It captures the potential or need for an action based on the subject's properties or external circumstances.

1.1 Participant-Inherent Dynamic Modality

Ability of the subject (e.g., "He can swim.")
Inherent needs of the subject (e.g., "I must eat something.")

1.2 Participant-Imposed Dynamic Modality

External circumstances affecting the subject (e.g., "You can park your car there because the garage is free.")

1.3 Situational Modality

Potentials and necessities inherent in the situation itself (e.g., "It can rain here every day in winter.")

2. Deontic Modality

Deontic modality refers to expressions of permission, obligation, or desirability, often grounded in social norms or ethical judgments. It reflects the speaker's assessment of what is permitted, obligatory, or desirable in a given context.

2.1 Permissions

Granting permission (e.g., "You may go now.")

2.2 Obligations

Expressing obligation or necessity (e.g., "You must finish your homework.")

2.3 Moral Evaluations

Judging actions or states based on ethical standards (e.g., "We cannot fire him just like that.")

3. Epistemic Modality

Epistemic modality pertains to the speaker's assessment of the likelihood or certainty of a state of affairs. It encompasses various degrees of certainty, probability, or possibility regarding the truth of a proposition.

3.1 Certainty

Absolute certainty (e.g., "He is definitely coming.")

3.2 Probability

Likelihood or high probability (e.g., "He is probably at home.")

3.3 Possibility

Potential or possibility (e.g., "It might rain tomorrow.")

4. Boulomaic Modality

Boulomaic modality (or boulomaic attitude) concerns expressions of the speaker's desires, wishes, or emotional attitudes towards a state of affairs. It indicates the degree of liking or disliking, often reflecting personal or emotional evaluations.

4.1 Desires

Expressing a wish or desire (e.g., "I want to hear the whole story.")

4.2 Emotional Reactions

Indicating emotional attitudes (e.g., "Unfortunately, I can't come to your party.")

4.3 Approval and Disapproval

Showing approval or disapproval (e.g., "I am glad the academic year is over again.")

Understanding modality within the framework of SFL involves exploring its role in the broader system of linguistic functions and its interaction with other grammatical and semantic elements. This perspective allows researchers to analyze how modality contributes to the richness and complexity of human communication, reflecting the diverse ways speakers navigate and express their attitudes towards the world around them.

Reference

Nuyts, J. (2014). Analyses of the Modal Meanings. In J. Nuyts & J. van der Auwera (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Modality and Mood (pp. 31-49). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199591435.013.1

Introduction to Modality in Systemic Functional Linguistics