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ModP Hypothesis: Restructuring the Syntactic Structure of Modals

Author: YeYouZhen
Tutor: ZhaoYanChun
School: Sichuan International Studies University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: Modals Syntactic structure Epistemic modality Root modality Functional category
CLC: H314
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2011
Downloads: 58
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Abstract

Modals, in English, mainly as must, can, could, will, would, shall, may and might, is an important and complex linguistic phenomena, has been philosophy, logic, semantics and Syntax study a hot topic. Syntax is generated under the framework modals research focuses on the analysis of its syntactic structure. First, the researchers of the language on the modal auxiliary uncompromising class of problems, that is, its class is the auxiliary verb or verb phrase, or somewhere in between verbs and auxiliaries. This dispute directly affected the modal auxiliary syntactic structure analysis. In general, the history of syntactic study of modal auxiliary least five different structural analysis, were analyzed as VP, IP, CP, TP or vP center of language. These studies modals and deep structure of sentences to explore contributed, but those on the modal auxiliary syntactic structure analysis is based modals of epistemic modality and root modality distinguish the applicants, this distinction is based on modal auxiliary In different contexts to make pragmatic meaning, and there is still a grammar and lexicon of confusion. As a result of these programs in their own interpretation of the theory of systems exist more or less difficulties and contradictions. In this study, in line with the spirit of the most simple, trying to solve the problems of previous studies, and committed to the modal auxiliary syntactic structure gives a unified and rational explanation. Based on modal auxiliary unique syntactic features, this article redefines modals of genres, analyzes their characteristics carry sub genres, and on this basis proposed ModP hypothesis. In summary, modal auxiliary is an important sentence modal operator, it does not constitute a necessary condition for the sentence the verb phrase, sentence jurisdiction in the field is the whole sentence. This study put forward by demonstrating analysis, modal auxiliary verbs auxiliary language class is attributable to the functional category. In addition, the modal auxiliary INFL does not show any characteristic, and its and TNS and ASP is phase difference, respectively, to form the respective maximum projection. Modal auxiliary language in the sentence as a center form the largest projection ModP (modality phrase), the syntactic structure independent of other functional category. This hypothesis is not only consistent and modal logic, but can also be used to explain the characteristics of idioms. This hypothesis is not only to generate modal auxiliary syntactic position to make an explanation, but also to solve the problem of INFL and sign language offers the possibility, and not only to contribute to re-examine the structure of the whole sentence, but also can Glimpse of human language basic logic structure and language in common. In addition, modal auxiliary repositioning and analysis also has a certain practical significance of teaching, teaching grammar and syntax help learning.

ModP Hypothesis: Restructuring the Syntactic Structure of Modals

Abstract

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