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
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