在“是”和“不是”之间:归一性、情态和否定

Polarity,Modality,and Negation

讨论了功能语法中的归一性、情态和否定等概念。这三个概念都与人际意义紧密相关,它们之间相互联系又相互区别,各自表示不同的人际意义。经过分析发现,功能语法对三个概念的处理混淆了它们之间的相互区别,不利于人们认识小句的情态意义及人际功能。作者发现传统语义学的相关论述对我们认识这些概念的本质,澄清它们之间的界限很有帮助。建议明确定义,分清界限,以帮助人们认识小句的情态意义和人际功能的本质。

In this paper, the writer reviews the treatment of polarity, modality, and negation in the Hallidayan functional grammar. Although these three concepts are closely related and they all contribute to the interpersonal meaning of the clause, distinctions should be made between them in that each is concerned with a different kind of interpersonal meaning. Analysis indicates that functional treatment of these concepts makes obscure the distinctions between them, which in turn gives rise to confusion. It is found that related discussion in traditional semantics may help us realize the nature of these concepts and their differences. The author concludes with several proposals which are believed to be helpful in clearing away the confusion and in revealing the true meaning of interpersonal meta-function in general and modality in particular.