THE USE OF MODALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF ACADEMIC INTERACTIONS.
THE USE OF MODALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF
ACADEMIC INTERACTIONS
A THESIS
Submitted to the English Department of State University of Medan In Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirement for the degree Of Sarjana Sastra
BY :
LITA ARABIA JT PANJAITAN
Reg. No. 2102220010
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, the greatest thanks to almighty God in heaven for His
opportunity, blessings and health given to her which enable her to completed this
thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra at
English and Literature Department, Faculty of
Language and Arts, State
University of Medan.
This thesis could have not been accomplished without guidances,
comments, suggestions, and support from several people, for which the writer
would like to extend her sincere and special thanks to:
Prof. Dr. Ibnu Hajar Damanik, M.Si., as the Rector of State University
of Medan.
Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum as the Dean of Faculty of Language and
Arts, Vice Dean I, Vice Dean II, Vice Dean III, and all the Administrative
Staff.
Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd as the Head of English and Literature
Department and Rika, S.Pd.,M.Hum, the Secretary of English and
Literature Department.
Dra. Meisuri, M.A. as the Head of Literature Prody of English
Department, and Her Thesis Supervisor, Dra. Masitowarni Siregar,
M.Ed as the head of English Education and also Ma’am Eis for all
suggestion and administrative during her study.
ii
All the lectures of English Department and the whole Staff of Faculty
of Languages and Arts State University of Medan who have helped and
guided her during her study.
Her beloved parents Jonter Panjaitan and Riamaida Sagala for their
encouragement, prayers, and their deepest love.
Government for Bidik Misi’s program by giving the finance during study.
Her lovely sisters ever Lisna Eka Noverinda Panjaitan and Nurhadi
Sirait, Lisbet Dwi Peronika Panjaitan, and Ernita Panjaitan, her
beloved brother Romual Panjaitan. And also her niece and nephew
Rezky, Samuel, and Carlies Veodora.
Her cell group SECD (Lestari, Pinta, Marini, Nelly and Novita) for the
deepest love of them and for her unforgettable sister Riahmawani Purba
thanks for patient, attention and pray, and her closed friends Marini, Eva
Meliana and Penni Uli for supporting, togetherness, and best moment
during study.
For those who are her friends in English Literature 2010, and Partners
in BT-BS Medica the greatest thanks to all of them for their motivation
and supports each other that can not be mentioned one by one. Love you
all.
Medan, July 2014
The Writer
Lita Arabia JT Panjaitan
Reg.No 2102220010
iii
ABSTRACT
Panjaitan, Lita Arabia JT. NIM 2102220010. The Use of Modality in the
Context of Academic Interactions. Thesis. English Department.Faculty of
Language and Arts. State University of Medan. 2014
The study deals with the kinds of modality used in the context of academic
interactions. The objectives of the study to discover the dominant modality, to
imply for the dominant use of modality in the context of academic interactions.
The data were the transcript of interactions between university students and their
lecturer in the classroom, talking by phone, and using short message service
which were gotten from the recordings. This research was conducted by using
descriptive qualitative design. The findings showed that there were 85 utterances
which contained 4 types of modality, the obligation (49,41%) , the
inclination(30,58%) , the probability (17,64%) for the probability, and the usuality
(2,35%) . The percentage shows that obligation of modality was the most
dominant type used in the context of academic interactions.
.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................
LIST OF APPENDICES ..............................................................................
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of Study ...........................................................................
B. The Problems of Study .........................................................................
C. The Scopes of Study ...........................................................................
D. The Objectives of Study ......................................................................
E. The Significances of Study .................................................................
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................
1. Functional Grammar ....................................................................
2. Language ......................................................................................
3. Modality .......................................................................................
4. Types of Modality ........................................................................
5. Politeness ......................................................................................
6. Academic Interaction ...................................................................
7. Communication: Face to Face, talking in Phone and short
Message .........................................................................................
8. Student’s University .....................................................................
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD
A. Research Design ..................................................................................
B. Source of Data .....................................................................................
C. Technique of Collecting Data .............................................................
D. Technique of Analyzing Data .............................................................
CHAPTER IV DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS
A. Data ......................................................................................................
B. Data Analysis .......................................................................................
C. Research Findings ................................................................................
D. Discussions...........................................................................................
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions ..........................................................................................
B. Suggestions...........................................................................................
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................
iv
i
iii
iv
v
vi
1
5
5
6
6
8
8
8
11
16
20
22
23
25
27
27
28
29
30
30
34
34
37
37
39
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1.
Table 4.2.
Table 4.3.
Table 4.4.
Table 4.5.
The Frequency of Occurrences for Probability .............................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Usuality .................................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Obligation ..............................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Inclination .............................
The Percentage of Occurrences each Types of Modality ..............
v
31
31
32
33
33
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the classroom (Face to Face) ...........................................
Appendix 2 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the Short message ............................................................
Appendix 3 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the Talking in phone ........................................................
vi
41
65
70
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
Based on the findings that are explained, it can be concluded as the
following:
1. Based on the analysis of the data on the classroom (face to face), short
message, and talking in phone, it can be concluded that there are four types
of modality used in that medias, namely: probability, usuality, obligation,
and inclination.
2. The most dominant type of modality in the context of academic
interactions was modality of obligation (49,41%) and the most dominant
type of modality in obligation was “can” with 33 occurrences.
3. This research gave the implication to the students especially who has study
in the university in the English department, because this research consisted
with the subject of Functional Grammar about Modality which is used by
people in their language when they are doing interactions to show the
respect to the other people and also give the good learning about the
subject of Modality.
B. Suggestions
From the conclusions given, the following suggestion are needed, the
following suggestion are needed to be considered by the reader:
37
38
1. For the readers, is needed to learn more about modality, so they can
apply the modality when they are doing conversation to the other to
show the good respect or politeness.
2. For the students, especially English Department who take Functional
grammar, it suggested to learn more how to apply modality in order to
distinguish the four types of modality easily and simply.
3. For the other researchers, these findings can be applied by other
researchers to conduct the research about modality in other field of
studies.
39
REFERENCES
Al- Khatib, Mahmoud A. 2001. The Pragmatics of Letter Writing. Vol 20(2) pp
179-200.
Eggins, S, 1994. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistis. London:
Pinter Publisher.
Gil- Salom, Luz, and Soler, Carmen. 2009. Interacting with the Reader: Politeness
Strategies in Engineering. Research Article Discussions. pp 89-175.
Hickey, Leo. 2001. The Pragmatics of Translation. China: Sanghai Foreign
Language Education Press.
Holmes, Janet. 1990. An introduction to sociolinguistic. New Zealand:
Wellington.
Hengeveld, Kees.2008. Journal of Semantic. Illocution, Mood, and Modality in a
Functional Grammar. Vol 6 pp 227-269
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language/ December 27th 2013/ 16:32:05
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletalking in phone/ December 27th 2013/ 11:03:53
http://www.ask.com/question/what-is-face-to-face-communication/
27th 2013/ 08:25:19
December
Inchaurrald B., Carlos. 2001. Modal and Modality in English. Francis: University
of Zagaroza.
Intachakra, Songthama. 2004. Contrastive Pragmatics and Language Teaching:
Apologies and Thanks in English and Thai. Vol 35 (1) pp 37-62.
Ogiermann, Eva.2009. On Apologising in Negative and Positive Politeness
Cultures. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Rahadi, Kunjana. 2005. Pragmatik: Kesantuan Imperatif Bahasa Indonesia.
Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga.
Rahmah. 2012. Functional Grammar. Medan: Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Medan,
UNIMED.
Sandu, Rajwanti, and Dyson, Benjamin. 2013. Modality and Task Switching
Interactions using Bi-Modal and Bivalent Stimuli. Vol 82(1) pp90-99.
Siahaan, Sanggam.2008. Issues in Linguistics. Jakarta: Graha Ilmu.
39
40
Thomson, A.J. Martinet, A.V. 1985. A Practical English Grammar. London:
Oxford University Press
Yule, George.2000. Pragmatics. New York: Oxford University Press
40
ACADEMIC INTERACTIONS
A THESIS
Submitted to the English Department of State University of Medan In Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirement for the degree Of Sarjana Sastra
BY :
LITA ARABIA JT PANJAITAN
Reg. No. 2102220010
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, the greatest thanks to almighty God in heaven for His
opportunity, blessings and health given to her which enable her to completed this
thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra at
English and Literature Department, Faculty of
Language and Arts, State
University of Medan.
This thesis could have not been accomplished without guidances,
comments, suggestions, and support from several people, for which the writer
would like to extend her sincere and special thanks to:
Prof. Dr. Ibnu Hajar Damanik, M.Si., as the Rector of State University
of Medan.
Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum as the Dean of Faculty of Language and
Arts, Vice Dean I, Vice Dean II, Vice Dean III, and all the Administrative
Staff.
Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd as the Head of English and Literature
Department and Rika, S.Pd.,M.Hum, the Secretary of English and
Literature Department.
Dra. Meisuri, M.A. as the Head of Literature Prody of English
Department, and Her Thesis Supervisor, Dra. Masitowarni Siregar,
M.Ed as the head of English Education and also Ma’am Eis for all
suggestion and administrative during her study.
ii
All the lectures of English Department and the whole Staff of Faculty
of Languages and Arts State University of Medan who have helped and
guided her during her study.
Her beloved parents Jonter Panjaitan and Riamaida Sagala for their
encouragement, prayers, and their deepest love.
Government for Bidik Misi’s program by giving the finance during study.
Her lovely sisters ever Lisna Eka Noverinda Panjaitan and Nurhadi
Sirait, Lisbet Dwi Peronika Panjaitan, and Ernita Panjaitan, her
beloved brother Romual Panjaitan. And also her niece and nephew
Rezky, Samuel, and Carlies Veodora.
Her cell group SECD (Lestari, Pinta, Marini, Nelly and Novita) for the
deepest love of them and for her unforgettable sister Riahmawani Purba
thanks for patient, attention and pray, and her closed friends Marini, Eva
Meliana and Penni Uli for supporting, togetherness, and best moment
during study.
For those who are her friends in English Literature 2010, and Partners
in BT-BS Medica the greatest thanks to all of them for their motivation
and supports each other that can not be mentioned one by one. Love you
all.
Medan, July 2014
The Writer
Lita Arabia JT Panjaitan
Reg.No 2102220010
iii
ABSTRACT
Panjaitan, Lita Arabia JT. NIM 2102220010. The Use of Modality in the
Context of Academic Interactions. Thesis. English Department.Faculty of
Language and Arts. State University of Medan. 2014
The study deals with the kinds of modality used in the context of academic
interactions. The objectives of the study to discover the dominant modality, to
imply for the dominant use of modality in the context of academic interactions.
The data were the transcript of interactions between university students and their
lecturer in the classroom, talking by phone, and using short message service
which were gotten from the recordings. This research was conducted by using
descriptive qualitative design. The findings showed that there were 85 utterances
which contained 4 types of modality, the obligation (49,41%) , the
inclination(30,58%) , the probability (17,64%) for the probability, and the usuality
(2,35%) . The percentage shows that obligation of modality was the most
dominant type used in the context of academic interactions.
.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................
LIST OF APPENDICES ..............................................................................
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of Study ...........................................................................
B. The Problems of Study .........................................................................
C. The Scopes of Study ...........................................................................
D. The Objectives of Study ......................................................................
E. The Significances of Study .................................................................
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................
1. Functional Grammar ....................................................................
2. Language ......................................................................................
3. Modality .......................................................................................
4. Types of Modality ........................................................................
5. Politeness ......................................................................................
6. Academic Interaction ...................................................................
7. Communication: Face to Face, talking in Phone and short
Message .........................................................................................
8. Student’s University .....................................................................
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD
A. Research Design ..................................................................................
B. Source of Data .....................................................................................
C. Technique of Collecting Data .............................................................
D. Technique of Analyzing Data .............................................................
CHAPTER IV DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS
A. Data ......................................................................................................
B. Data Analysis .......................................................................................
C. Research Findings ................................................................................
D. Discussions...........................................................................................
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions ..........................................................................................
B. Suggestions...........................................................................................
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................
iv
i
iii
iv
v
vi
1
5
5
6
6
8
8
8
11
16
20
22
23
25
27
27
28
29
30
30
34
34
37
37
39
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1.
Table 4.2.
Table 4.3.
Table 4.4.
Table 4.5.
The Frequency of Occurrences for Probability .............................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Usuality .................................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Obligation ..............................
The Frequency of Occurrences for Inclination .............................
The Percentage of Occurrences each Types of Modality ..............
v
31
31
32
33
33
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the classroom (Face to Face) ...........................................
Appendix 2 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the Short message ............................................................
Appendix 3 The interpretation and the Classification of Modality
in the Talking in phone ........................................................
vi
41
65
70
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
Based on the findings that are explained, it can be concluded as the
following:
1. Based on the analysis of the data on the classroom (face to face), short
message, and talking in phone, it can be concluded that there are four types
of modality used in that medias, namely: probability, usuality, obligation,
and inclination.
2. The most dominant type of modality in the context of academic
interactions was modality of obligation (49,41%) and the most dominant
type of modality in obligation was “can” with 33 occurrences.
3. This research gave the implication to the students especially who has study
in the university in the English department, because this research consisted
with the subject of Functional Grammar about Modality which is used by
people in their language when they are doing interactions to show the
respect to the other people and also give the good learning about the
subject of Modality.
B. Suggestions
From the conclusions given, the following suggestion are needed, the
following suggestion are needed to be considered by the reader:
37
38
1. For the readers, is needed to learn more about modality, so they can
apply the modality when they are doing conversation to the other to
show the good respect or politeness.
2. For the students, especially English Department who take Functional
grammar, it suggested to learn more how to apply modality in order to
distinguish the four types of modality easily and simply.
3. For the other researchers, these findings can be applied by other
researchers to conduct the research about modality in other field of
studies.
39
REFERENCES
Al- Khatib, Mahmoud A. 2001. The Pragmatics of Letter Writing. Vol 20(2) pp
179-200.
Eggins, S, 1994. An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistis. London:
Pinter Publisher.
Gil- Salom, Luz, and Soler, Carmen. 2009. Interacting with the Reader: Politeness
Strategies in Engineering. Research Article Discussions. pp 89-175.
Hickey, Leo. 2001. The Pragmatics of Translation. China: Sanghai Foreign
Language Education Press.
Holmes, Janet. 1990. An introduction to sociolinguistic. New Zealand:
Wellington.
Hengeveld, Kees.2008. Journal of Semantic. Illocution, Mood, and Modality in a
Functional Grammar. Vol 6 pp 227-269
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language/ December 27th 2013/ 16:32:05
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletalking in phone/ December 27th 2013/ 11:03:53
http://www.ask.com/question/what-is-face-to-face-communication/
27th 2013/ 08:25:19
December
Inchaurrald B., Carlos. 2001. Modal and Modality in English. Francis: University
of Zagaroza.
Intachakra, Songthama. 2004. Contrastive Pragmatics and Language Teaching:
Apologies and Thanks in English and Thai. Vol 35 (1) pp 37-62.
Ogiermann, Eva.2009. On Apologising in Negative and Positive Politeness
Cultures. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Rahadi, Kunjana. 2005. Pragmatik: Kesantuan Imperatif Bahasa Indonesia.
Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga.
Rahmah. 2012. Functional Grammar. Medan: Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Medan,
UNIMED.
Sandu, Rajwanti, and Dyson, Benjamin. 2013. Modality and Task Switching
Interactions using Bi-Modal and Bivalent Stimuli. Vol 82(1) pp90-99.
Siahaan, Sanggam.2008. Issues in Linguistics. Jakarta: Graha Ilmu.
39
40
Thomson, A.J. Martinet, A.V. 1985. A Practical English Grammar. London:
Oxford University Press
Yule, George.2000. Pragmatics. New York: Oxford University Press
40