MODALITY IN ACADEMIC ENGLISH TEXT.

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Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Magister Humaniora

By:

HIKMAH SUDANTI Registration Number: 8116111009

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM

POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN

MEDAN


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

First and foremost, the writer would like to direct her very special expression to Allah SWT the almighty and most merciful for the continuous blessing good health and luck until this piece of academic achievement appears in its present forms. The sincerest shalawat and greetings are also given to the great prophet Muhammad SAW for his invaluable struggle in making the people’s life better.

In the process of writing this thesis, the writer would like to extend her sincere and special thanks. Her gratitude is intended for her beloved parents, Shabriyah Simanjuntak and Sundari (Mother in law) for their endless love, prays, and supports both moral and material before, during and after her academic years at Postgraduate School Program of State University of Medan and special thanks also for her beloved husband, Juliswan, S. Pd., and her cute boys, Ahmad Erdogan Al-Fatih and Ahmad Mukrim Al-Hidayah who always give love, prays, motivation, support and also patience in assisting the writer in finishing this thesis.

The writer would like to express her sincere gratitude to Prof. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd., her first adviser and Dr. Aisyah Ginting, M. Pd., her second adviser, for their valuable advice, guidance, constructive comments and precious time spent on supervising and commenting the process of finishing this piece of academic writing.

The writer would like to give her special thanks to her reviewers and examiners Prof. Dr. Berlin Sibarani, M. Pd., Dr. Didik Santoso, M. Pd., and Prof. Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M. S. for their valuable input for completion of this thesis.

In particular, her enormous appreciation is addressed to the Head of English Applied Linguistics Study Program, Dr. Rahmad Husein, M. Pd., the secretary


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ii

Dr. Anni Holila Pulungan, M. Hum., and administration staff Farid Ma’ruf Harahap, for the suggestions and administrative assistance during the completing of this thesis and all lectures who have given very valuable knowledge and science during her study at English Applied Linguistics Study Program Postgraduate School of State University of Medan.

Last but always forever, very special thanks to all lovely friends in the class A LTBI/XX as well and especially for her best sisters in the “Tarbiyah forever” in Sibolga and Medan Nina Lanina, Elvita Hidayat, KakAnnio Indah Lestari Nst, Mahya Humaira, Windy Sri Wahyuni, Rumaisho Hanniy, Fathur Rizqiyah and members of Al-Firqotu Hurun’iin for their love, encouragement, supports, and unforgettable experiences in this thesis accomplishment.

May Allah SWT. Bless you all.

Medan, Juni 2016 The Writer


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ABSTRACT

HIKMAH SUDANTI. Registration Number : 8116111009. Modality in Academic English Text.A Thesis.English Applied Linguistics Study Program.Postgraduate School.State University of Medan. 2016.

The aim of this study were (1) to find the types of modality used in academic journal of Natural Science English text, they were Physics, Medicine and Biology. (2) to find the most dominant type of modality used in academic journal of Physics, Medicine and Biology. (3) to investigates why modality used the way they are in academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology. The data were modality that used modal verbs obtained from academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology. This research applied qualitative reseach design. The data were collected through documentary technique. The findings of this study showed that: 1) There were two types of modality used in the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology, namely: modalization and modulation. Each of those two types was also divided into two types. The modalization was divided into ‘probability’ and

‘usuality’, while modulation was divided into ‘inclination’ and ‘obligation’. But, only three types that found in this research, they were probability, inclination and

obligation. ‘Usuality’ type not found the data it was because the authors of

academic journal of Natural Science certain enough with their hypotheses and experiment they made. 2) The most dominant types of modality used in the academic journal of Physics and Medicine was modalization (probability type) with high value which was indicated by using modal verb such as would, will,

can, could, may, must, should, etc to convey their attitude toward the events. 3)

The reason of those modals (may, will, would, can and could) used in the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology were that most of the

opinion’s authors tried to comment on their hypotheses which have not happened yet or the events that taken place in the future. So rather than to say something they tend to convey the reader by making prediction or guessing about what would happen next but still they paid attention to the existing fact (result of experiment).


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iv ABSTRAK

HIKMAH SUDANTI. Nomor Registrasi: 8116111009. Modalitas dalamTeks Akademik Bahasa Inggris. Thesis. Program Studi Linguistik Terapan Bahasa Inggris. Sekolah Pascasarjana. Universitas Negeri Medan. 2016.

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah: (1) untuk menemukan jenis/tipe modalitas yang digunakan dalam teks Bahasa Inggris jurnal akademik IPA, yaitu Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biologi. (2) untuk menemukan tipe modalitas yang paling dominan digunakan dalam teks jurnal akademik Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biologi. (3) untuk menyelidiki alasan penggunaan modalitas dalam teks jurnal akademik Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biology. Data adalah modalitas yang menggunakan modal verbs yang terdapat pada jurnal akademik Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biologi. Penelitian ini menerapkan desain penelitian kualitatif. Data dikumpulkan melalui teknik dokumentari. Temuan dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa: 1) ada dua jenis/tipe modalitas yang digunakan dalam jurnal akademik Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biologi, yaitu modalization dan modulation. Dimana masing-masing tipe dibedakan lagi menjadi dua yaitu Modalization dengan probability dan usuality dan Modulation dengan obligation dan inclination. Tapi hanya 3 tipe modalitas yang ditemukan dalam penelitian ini, yaitu probability, obligation dan inclination. Tipe usuality tidak ditemukan dalam penelitian ini, hal ini menunjukkan bahwa penulis jurnal akademik IPA cukup yakin/pasti dengan hipotesa dan eksperimen yang mereka lakukan. 2) jenis/tipe modalitas yang paling banyak digunakan dalam jurnal akademik Fisika, Kedokteran dan Biologi adalah modalization (tipe probability) dengan nilai tinggi yang ditunjukkan dengan penggunaan modal verb seperti would, will, can, could, may, must, should, untuk menunjukkan sikap penulis terhadap peristiwa. 3) alasan dari penggunaan modals (may, will, would, can and could) digunakan dalam jurnal Fisika, Kedokteran, dan Biologi adalah bahwa pendapat terbanyak dari penulis adalah mencoba mengomentari hipotesa mereka yang belum terjadi atau yang akan terjadi kemudian. Maka bisa dikatakan mereka cenderung membawa pembaca memberikan prediksi atau menebak tentang apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya tapi masih diberikan perhatian terhadap hasil eksperimen yang telah dilakukan.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ... i

ABSTRACT ... iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... v

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 The Problems of the Study ... 6

1.3 The Objectives of the Study ... 6

1.4 The Scope of the Study ... 7

1.5 The Significances of the Study ... 7

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1. Syistemic Functional Grammar View on Modality ... 8

2.2 Modality ... 10

2.2.1 Area of Modality ... 12

2.2.2 Modality and Polarity ... 13

2.2.3 Realization of Modality ... 15

2.2.3.1 Modal Auxilaries ... 16

2.2.4 Coverage of Modality ... 18

2.2.5 The Orientation in Modality ... 19

2.3 Types of Modality ... 20

2.3.1 Modalization ... 23

2.3.2 Modulation ... 25

2.3.3 Values of Modality ... 26

2.4 Process of the Type of Modality ... 27

2.4.1 Desemanticization ... 27

2.4.2 Decategorialization ... 28

2.4.3 Cliticization ... 28

2.4.4 Erosion ... 28

2.5 Academic Writing ... 29


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vi

2.5.2 Academic Writing Structure ... 31

2.6 Modality in Academic Writing ... 32

2.6.1 The Reason for Using Modality ... 32

2.7 The Relevant Studies ... 35

2.8 Conceptual Framework ... 37

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD 3.1 Research Design... 39

3.2 Data and Source of Data ... 40

3.3 Technique for Collecting Data ... 41

3.4 Technique for Analyzing Data ... 41

3.5 Trustworthiness of the Data ... 44

CHAPTER IV DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Data Analysis ... 46

4.1.1 Types of Modality in Academic Journal of Natural Science ... 53

4.1.1.1 Types of Modality in Academic Journal of Physics ... 54

4.1.1.2 Types of Modality in Academic Journal of Medicine ... 56

4.1.1.3 Types of Modality in Academic Journal of Biology ... 58

4.2.2 The Underlying Reason the Use of Modality in Academic Journal of Natural Science (Physics, Medicine and Biology) ... 60

4.3 Findings ... 61

4.4 Discussion ... 62

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1 Conclusion ... 65

5.2 Suggestion ... 66

REFERENCES ... 67

APPENDIX A ... 69


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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1The Background of the Study

The role of a language is determinedby its communication functions which are influenced by the use of language units. The units structured systematically are used to express meaning by considering to whom the language is delivered or the aim of communication. Thus, from and function are two things that should be taken into consideration in communication.

The use of language for communication, such as in books, journals, letters, etc. are different. The difference is influenced by the characteristics of each medium. The characteristics of media will influence how people use language and how language is structured. The structured of language is relevant to the aim of communication. The different objectives of language use need different units of language. The difference in the use of language is influenced by the values or perspectives that the writer holds. The ideology guides the writer to use the language; and ideology invests language in various ways at various levels (Fairclough, 1992:88).

Text as a unit of functional language is realized by clauses or sentences in context; there is no text witout context. Thus, text that is used to express information in certain context will be different to the text in different context. The different is in the way of expressing information and the characteristics of knowledge or science should be relevant to the basis of ideology or genre. The difference is still related to the elasticity of language which can be easily adjusted


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to the grammatical structure, so that language can be used to express information in scientific texts.

Academic journal text as an academic discourse is a medium of getting values and exercise in discipline of science.Writing academic journal based oncharacteristics of discipline whether natural science or social science and of course use academic language or science language where this language must be logic, systematically, communicative and simple to understand. Halliday (1994:10) has identified three functional components of meaning in language which is called metafuction namely, ideational function where language is used to represent ideas, interpersonal function where language is used to exchange ideas and textual function where language is used to organize ideas.

As explained above, one of the functions of language, as a social phenomenon that has different function as purposed by Halliday is interpersonal function where the language is used to enable us to participate with communicative acts with other people. One of the realizations of interpersonal function is called modality. Modality has been originally understood as the truth value of the proposition logicians. It also might be construed as the relativization of the validity of sentence meaning to a set of possible worlds or way in which people could conceive the world to be different (Kiefer, 1994:2515). This means that, modality allows the language users to express what is, what would be, what may be and what should be. It can be said that, interpersonal function is realized by using a delicate modality system, by which something can be affirmed or denied, doubted or contradicted. Insisted on or accepted with reservation, etc.


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what stance a speaker or a writer takes depends largely on the modality system underlying the clauses. Thus from a systemic functional point of view, modality is also considered as an indicator of attitude or a source of negotiation.

Modality plays an important role for the expression of argument and opinion in academic writing. Modality refers to the intermediate choices between yes and no (Halliday, 1985: 86). Very few ideas in academia can be

stated as ‘fact’ so using modality allows academic writers to express, with various

degrees of certainty, ideas that are not fact. Patients do benefit (Yes)

Patients do not benefit (No)

Patients may benefit (Low certainty) Patients always benefit (High certainty)

A moderate 'low modality' statement of opinion allows for a more tentative conclusion to be drawn. It also appears to present a reasoned and objective argument because it allows for the possibility of evidence contrary to your claims. In comparison, a 'high modality' opinion can appeal to the emotions and so can be perceived as persuasive and subjective. However, if there is sample evidence to support the argument being presented then high modality is appropriate. High modality language is also used in specific genres for specific purposes such as to make recommendations on future research or problem solutions.

Modality can be realized by various kinds of linguistics unit, such as modals (can, could, will, would, must, etc.) adverb, the construction of BE ^ V-en,


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etc. Modals in academic writing can change a sentence’s meaning into a prediction, suggestion, or a question. Modals can also serve a social function to show uncertainty or politeness. They are especially common in discussion sections of research papers.

Therefore, many students or readersface difficulties in understanding modality when they read academic journal. They find difficulties in comprehending many texts. It may modal verbs. In academic English writing especially academic journal, modality with modal verbs are most frequently used to indicate logical possibility and least frequently used to indicate permission.

The difficulties will be clear for the readers when they try to understand the content of text, for example James C. Bird and team said in new Journal of Physics: Nonetheless, we expect that any additional effects that increase the

deformation of the lamella, such as surface roughness or atmospheric pressure,

woulddecrease ∁.In this sentence the authors express the willingness to decrease

∁, because the focus of the model is on the liquid; since they do not consider variation to the solid or surrounding gas, ∁ is a constant much greater than one.Modal verb wouldin this sentence identified as modulation type, where modulation is an expression of asking, directing or expression of our willingness to get somebody to do something. Another example McMurray and friends said in The New England Journal of Medicine:We estimated that the annual rate of the

primary end point would be 14.5 % and rare of death from cardiovascular causes

would be 7.0% in the enalapril group. In this sentence, the authors made


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group. The meaning of would indicates a high degree of confidence in the truth of the proposition. That is to say, they are used to express what we believe or guess to be true (modalization type).

This study addressees to the use of modality in academic journalof English text. In this case researcher chooses academic journal of Natural Science.It is often believed that the writingacademic text, particularly scientific writing, is factual, simply to convey facts and information. However it is now recognised that an important feature of academic writing is the concept of cautious language, often called "hedging" or "vague language". In other words, it is necessary to make decisions about the stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims we are making. Different subjects prefer to do this in different ways

.

Researcher here will analyze the language in journal academic of Natural Science, they are journal of Physics,Medicine,and Biologyin the useof the types of modality, whether modalizationor modulation. By knowing the types of modality, the writers of journal can improve their knowledge about modality.

There are some reasons for selecting the topic as the subject matters. The first, modality is one of important points to be discussed because through studying

modality and values one knows a personal judgement on, opinion, ‘flavor’ or

‘seasoning’ to an experiential content or a speech function by the addresser,

(Saragih, 2005:21). The second, modality is common used in spoken and written texts. But without doing research, no one knows the types of modality and value are used in academic writing texts.


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1.2The Problems of the Study

Based on the previous explanation the problems are formulation as the following:

1. What typesof modalityare used inacademic journal of Natural Science English text?

2. What the most dominant type of modality is used in academic journal of Natural Science English text?

3. Why are the modality used the way they are in such context in academicjournal of Natural Science English text?

1.3The Objectives of the Study

Based on the previous problems the objectives of this research are formulated as:

1. todescribed types of modality used in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

2. tofind the most dominant typeof modality used in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

3. to investigates why modality used the way theyare in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

1.4The Scope of the Study

The study applies the concept of modality proposed by Halliday. Research limitation is needed to give a focus to this research. This study was focused


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7

onoccurences of modality in academic journal of Natural Science English text, they are Physics, Medicine and Biology. Thus, there are some realization of modality such as modal verb, modal adverb, adjective, etc. here this research is focused on the use of modal verb as the indicator of it.The approach taken in this study is to look at the roles that the core modal auxiliary verbs (may, might, can,

could, will, would, shall, should, must) play. The modal auxiliaries are chosen

because they are used to perform many important functions in academic text, not least that of qualifying statements (in their epistemic senses), but also in their roles of indicating what is known as potential outcomes, and for forming hypotheses.

1.5 The Significances of the Study

The findings of the study are regarded to be useful and relevant theoretically and practically in some respects. Theoretically, the research findings are expected to be useful for thosewho are interestedabout modality in academic English text especially Natural Science English text.

Practically, the findings clarify or highlight understandings about modality. It is hoped lecturers or studentsuse the findings as a reference in teachingmodality. It is expected to be useful as one of the references to give more information to the English students to find further research about modalityin academic English text, especially in academic journal of Natural Scienceso that the students are motivated to dig up the modality meanings more sharply.


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65 5.1 Conclusions

Having analyzed the data, conclusions are drawn as the following:

1. Two types of modality were found in the academic journal of natural science (Physics, Medicine, and Biology). They were modalization and modulation. Each of those two types is also divided into two types. The modalization is divided into ‘probability’ and ‘usuality’, while modulation is divided into ‘inclination’ and ‘obligation’. But, only three types that found in this research, they are probability, inclination and obligation.‘Usuality’ type not found the data it was because the authors of academic journal of Natural Science certain enough with their hypotheses and experiment they made.

2. The most dominant type of modality used in the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology was modalization (probability with high value). The high value that used by the authors of the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology showed that they were sure enough about what they were writing since the experimental observation they did, the strong evidences were shown and it could be convinced the readers.

3. Modalizationor probability type occureddominantly in academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology. A possible reason of those modals (may, will, would, can and could) used in the academic journal of Physics,


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66

Medicine, and Biologywere that most of the opinion’s authors tried to comment on events (hypotheses) which have not happened yet or the events that takes place in the future. So rather than to say something they tend to convey the reader by making prediction or guessing about what would happen next but still they paid attention to the existing fact (the result of experiment).

5.2 Suggestions

With references to the conclusions, suggestions are staged as follows: 1. It is suggested that the writer of academic English should apply the

strategy of modality in their text proportionally to make sure that their point of view is certain enough so they can persuade the reader towards their point of view (hypothesis).

2. It is suggested that the students of English department should have a good comprehension in modality’s theory in order to be able to see and comprehend the message in any text from the perspective of functional grammar.

3. Students or other researchers are suggested to do further research in modality theory on other type of text to enable us to see the contrast or the comparison or the similarities of the using modality.


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Literary Text.International J. Soc. Sci. & Education Volume 2. 2012.

Angordans, Jordie Pique, Santiago Postequilli, J.VicentAndreu-Beso.Epistemic and Deontic

Modality: A Linguistic Indicator of Disciplinary Variation in Academic English. LSP

& Professional Communication Volume 2, No 2, October 2002.

Bird, James C, Scott S. H. Tsai, Howard A. Stone. 2009. Inclined to Splash: Triggering and

Inhibiting a Splash with Tangential Velocity. New Journal of Physics 11.

www.njp.org.

Bloor, T and M. Bloor. 1995. The Functional Analysis of English: A Halliday an Approach. New York: Edward Arnold

Bogdan, Robert. C. Biklen, Sari Knopp. 1992. Qualitative Research for Education.Boston. Allyn and Bacon.

Bonyadi, Alireza. 2011. Linguistic Manifestation of Modality in Newspaper Editorial in

International Journal of Linguistics. www.macrothink.org/ijl

Burhan, B. 2007.PenelitianKualitatif. Jakarta: KencanaPrenada Media.

Butt, David, et al. 1995.Using Functional grammar: An Explorer’s Guide. Sydney: Macquairie University Press.

Eggins, S. 2004. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistic (2nd Ed). London:

Continuum.

Fowler, R. 1986.Linguistics Criticism.Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Gurning, B. 2015.BahasaTeksIlmu-ilmuAlamdanIlmu-ilmuSosial

(BerbasisLinguistikFungsionalSistemik). Medan: Unimed Press.

Halliday, M.A.K. 1990. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold. Halliday, M.A.K. 1994. An Introduction to Functional Grammar (2nd Ed). London: Edward

Arnold.

Halliday, M.A.K. Christian M.I.M Matthiesen. 2004. An Introduction to Functional

Grammar (3rd Ed). London: Hodder Arnold.

Hykes, Jenny M. 2000. A Comparison of the Use of Modal Verbs in Research Articles by

Professionals and Non-Native Speaking Graduate Students.

http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd.


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Kiefer, F. 1994. Modality in R. E Asher (Ed) The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistic.

Editorials on Russia Discourse and Society 13/3 p 373 – 408

Kreidler, C. W. (1998) introducing English Semantics. London: Routlegde.

Lilian, D.L. 2008.Modality, Persuasion and Manipulation in Canadian Conservative

Discourse.Canada: ejournal.

Lincoln, Y &Guba E. 1985.Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills California: Sage.

Lock, G. 2002. Functional Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Martin,J.R. 1992. English Text: System and Structure. Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Martin,J.R. et.al. 1997. Working with Functional Grammar. London: Arnold.

Matthiessen C.M.I.M. 1995. Lexicogrammatical Cartography: English Systems. Tokyo: International Language Sciences Series.

Mc, Carthy, Michael and Ronald Carter. 1994. Language as Discourse. Perspectives for language teaching. London. Longman Groups.

McMurray, John J.V., Packer Milton, Desai, Akhsay S. Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition

versus Enalapril in Heart Failure.The New England Journal of Medicine.Accesed on

September 11, 2014. Vol. 371 No. 11

Miles, Matthew B., Huberman, Michael A., and Saldana, Johnny. 2014. Qualitative Data

Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd Ed) London. Sage.

Miller, R. W.1991. Fact and Method in the Second Sciences. In Boyd, R., Gasper. P., and Trout J. D, eds. The Philosophy of Science.Cambridge: The MIT Press.


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1.2The Problems of the Study

Based on the previous explanation the problems are formulation as the following:

1. What typesof modalityare used inacademic journal of Natural Science English text?

2. What the most dominant type of modality is used in academic journal of Natural Science English text?

3. Why are the modality used the way they are in such context in academicjournal of Natural Science English text?

1.3The Objectives of the Study

Based on the previous problems the objectives of this research are formulated as:

1. todescribed types of modality used in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

2. tofind the most dominant typeof modality used in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

3. to investigates why modality used the way theyare in academic journal of Natural Science English text.

1.4The Scope of the Study

The study applies the concept of modality proposed by Halliday. Research limitation is needed to give a focus to this research. This study was focused


(2)

7

onoccurences of modality in academic journal of Natural Science English text, they are Physics, Medicine and Biology. Thus, there are some realization of modality such as modal verb, modal adverb, adjective, etc. here this research is focused on the use of modal verb as the indicator of it.The approach taken in this study is to look at the roles that the core modal auxiliary verbs (may, might, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must) play. The modal auxiliaries are chosen because they are used to perform many important functions in academic text, not least that of qualifying statements (in their epistemic senses), but also in their roles of indicating what is known as potential outcomes, and for forming hypotheses.

1.5 The Significances of the Study

The findings of the study are regarded to be useful and relevant theoretically and practically in some respects. Theoretically, the research findings are expected to be useful for thosewho are interestedabout modality in academic English text especially Natural Science English text.

Practically, the findings clarify or highlight understandings about modality. It is hoped lecturers or studentsuse the findings as a reference in teachingmodality. It is expected to be useful as one of the references to give more information to the English students to find further research about modalityin academic English text, especially in academic journal of Natural Scienceso that the students are motivated to dig up the modality meanings more sharply.


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65 5.1 Conclusions

Having analyzed the data, conclusions are drawn as the following:

1. Two types of modality were found in the academic journal of natural science (Physics, Medicine, and Biology). They were modalization and modulation. Each of those two types is also divided into two types. The modalization is divided into ‘probability’ and ‘usuality’, while modulation is divided into ‘inclination’ and ‘obligation’. But, only three types that found in this research, they are probability, inclination and obligation.‘Usuality’ type not found the data it was because the authors of academic journal of Natural Science certain enough with their hypotheses and experiment they made.

2. The most dominant type of modality used in the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology was modalization (probability with high value). The high value that used by the authors of the academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology showed that they were sure enough about what they were writing since the experimental observation they did, the strong evidences were shown and it could be convinced the readers.

3. Modalizationor probability type occureddominantly in academic journal of Physics, Medicine, and Biology. A possible reason of those modals (may, will, would, can and could) used in the academic journal of Physics,


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66

Medicine, and Biologywere that most of the opinion’s authors tried to comment on events (hypotheses) which have not happened yet or the events that takes place in the future. So rather than to say something they tend to convey the reader by making prediction or guessing about what would happen next but still they paid attention to the existing fact (the result of experiment).

5.2 Suggestions

With references to the conclusions, suggestions are staged as follows: 1. It is suggested that the writer of academic English should apply the

strategy of modality in their text proportionally to make sure that their point of view is certain enough so they can persuade the reader towards their point of view (hypothesis).

2. It is suggested that the students of English department should have a good comprehension in modality’s theory in order to be able to see and comprehend the message in any text from the perspective of functional grammar.

3. Students or other researchers are suggested to do further research in modality theory on other type of text to enable us to see the contrast or the comparison or the similarities of the using modality.


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Literary Text.International J. Soc. Sci. & Education Volume 2. 2012.

Angordans, Jordie Pique, Santiago Postequilli, J.VicentAndreu-Beso.Epistemic and Deontic Modality: A Linguistic Indicator of Disciplinary Variation in Academic English. LSP & Professional Communication Volume 2, No 2, October 2002.

Bird, James C, Scott S. H. Tsai, Howard A. Stone. 2009. Inclined to Splash: Triggering and Inhibiting a Splash with Tangential Velocity. New Journal of Physics 11. www.njp.org.

Bloor, T and M. Bloor. 1995. The Functional Analysis of English: A Halliday an Approach. New York: Edward Arnold

Bogdan, Robert. C. Biklen, Sari Knopp. 1992. Qualitative Research for Education.Boston. Allyn and Bacon.

Bonyadi, Alireza. 2011. Linguistic Manifestation of Modality in Newspaper Editorial in International Journal of Linguistics. www.macrothink.org/ijl

Burhan, B. 2007.PenelitianKualitatif. Jakarta: KencanaPrenada Media.

Butt, David, et al. 1995.Using Functional grammar: An Explorer’s Guide. Sydney: Macquairie University Press.

Eggins, S. 2004. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistic (2nd Ed). London: Continuum.

Fowler, R. 1986.Linguistics Criticism.Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Gurning, B. 2015.BahasaTeksIlmu-ilmuAlamdanIlmu-ilmuSosial (BerbasisLinguistikFungsionalSistemik). Medan: Unimed Press.

Halliday, M.A.K. 1990. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold. Halliday, M.A.K. 1994. An Introduction to Functional Grammar (2nd Ed). London: Edward

Arnold.

Halliday, M.A.K. Christian M.I.M Matthiesen. 2004. An Introduction to Functional Grammar (3rd Ed). London: Hodder Arnold.

Hykes, Jenny M. 2000. A Comparison of the Use of Modal Verbs in Research Articles by

Professionals and Non-Native Speaking Graduate Students.

http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd.


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Kiefer, F. 1994. Modality in R. E Asher (Ed) The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistic. Editorials on Russia Discourse and Society 13/3 p 373 – 408

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Lilian, D.L. 2008.Modality, Persuasion and Manipulation in Canadian Conservative Discourse.Canada: ejournal.

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