Excerpt 1 is when she feels very afraid to leave her home.The modalities occurring in excerpt 2 are when she is on her journey, looks at the surrounding,
and contemplates about herself. Modalities in excerpt 3 appear after she has a fight with her friend Gigi, and she wants to tell about anything to Connie.
The table below shows the modality system of Mavis from excerpt 1 until excerpt 3. As seen in the table, Mavis employs the most modalities in excerpt 1,
twenty three 23 modalities of twenty seven 27 clauses. The modality system in excerpt 2 consists of eight 6 modalities of twenty two 22 occurrences, is used
to analyze the surrounding and her mental condition. Last, the least occurrence of modalities is in excerpt 3, nine 9 occurrences of thirty eight 38 clauses
selected. Table 4.1.1 The Modality System of Mavis
No. Modalities
Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2
Excerpt 3 L
M H
L M
H L
M H
1. Probability
5 8
2 1
1 1
- 3
- 2.
Usuality -
1 -
1 -
- -
- -
3. Obligation
- 4
1 -
- 1
- 2
1 4.
Inclination -
- 2
- -
1 -
3 -
Total 23 occ 27 cl
6 occ 22 cl 9 occ 38 cl
4.1.1.1 The Modality System in Excerpt 1
This excerpt is dominated by the occurrence of the probability rather than the other types of modality. For the value, the median value appears mostly such
as in the probability, there are eleven occurrences of seventeen and four occurrences in the obligation. Only four low values of modality occur in this
excerpt, and all of them are in the probability. Furthermore, the other values are high values of modality which occur with the probability, two occurrences, and
the inclination, two occurrences. The least modality appearing in this excerpt is the usuality, only once.
The low value of modality is used by the character to analyze about the situation, the action that she should take, and her prediction about her children.
M.1.8a …, but maybe not laid yet. low probability M.1.15b …, so maybe she should shoot for the front door. low
probability M.1.16a Or maybe they counted on her changing a habit, … low
probability All of the modalities above use the objective orientation with low probability
maybe . They try to show to the readers that Mavis, in her hurry and fear, is not
sure about the surrounding condition. She is in panic to predict the situation and make a decision about her action.
The median value of modality appears very frequently in this excerpt. See the example below.
M.1.7 Dawn, Mavis thought, would be critical. median
probability M.1.9
Her sharpest concentration would be needed to locate it before it sprung. median probability
M.1.15a They would probably expect her to go straight to the kitchen as usual, … median probability
Like the low probabilities, the median value of probabilities are also carried by the
character to analyze her surroundings, dawn, in M.1.7, what is her next action, her sharpest concentration
, in M.1.9, and the prediction about the action of her children, they would probably expect her…, in M.1.15a. The median value is
actually expressed not only in the subjective orientation would but also in the objective orientation probably. Even, in M.1.15a there are double modalities
would and probably which emphasize the importance of her analysis toward the
action of her children since it will affect the success of her plan. In addition to the low value and the median value of probability, the high
value of modality is also employed by the character to express her opinion on Frank, especially the purpose of Frank’s action.
M.1.2b … suddenly she understood that he was talking not to her but to the other children, … high probability
M.1.3 It was, she knew, the signal - to sal, to Frankie, to Billy
James. high probability Unlike the previous two, this high value of probability refers to Frank,
Mavis’ husband. Therefore, the effect of this high value of probability is that she is really sure about her husband and know him very well. It can also
be the signal of her negative opinion toward her husband. Then the obligation in this excerpt is represented by the should,
would, and have to as seen in the examples below.
M.1.1 Should
she say, What? What you mean? What don’t you know? median obligation
M.1.4a … she would have slipped out of bed. median obligation M.1.9
Her sharpest concentration would be needed … high obligation
M.1.14 She would have to decide which was she … median obligation
The subjects of the examples above are all Mavis. She gives herself an obligation
to do certain actions M.1.9, to react properly as M.1.1 or to escape from her house safely as in M.1.4a and M.1.14. The effect of the modalities is that the
modalities emphasize that her attitude and her action are important, so that she does not do something wrong and blow up her plan.
The least frequent modalities shown in this excerpt are the medium usuality and high inclination.
M.1.2a Mavis chose silence high inclination M.1.14 She would have to decide which was she … high
inclination M.1.15a They would probably expect her to go straight to the
kitchen as usual, … median usuality The occurrences of the high inclination and the median usuality, as seen in the
example above, are in combination with other types of modality except for example M.1.2a. The example M.1.2a relates with her understanding about her
husband which resulted in that decision. Again, it creates the effect that she is sure about her husband, so she took the high inclination to react. Regarding the
example M.1.14, decide in combination with would have to means that she is still in plan to make a decision. She has not come up with the decision although
the decision is important in that situation. Finally, the occurrence of the median usuality here is not really significant. It only shows about Mavis’s habit.
4.1.1.2 The Modality System in Excerpt 2
