“同一论”视角下情态动词的对比分析

The Comparative Study of Modality from the Perspective of Identification

本文运用Kenneth Burke的“同一论”,从同情同一、对立同一、误同同一三个方面,以奥巴马和习近平的大学演讲为例,对比英汉情态动词的使用情况。说明在同一修辞情景下,即面向在校大学生时,英汉情态动词使用反映了说话人语言编码的心理意向,一定程度上体现了语言使用的主观性和文化差异性。同时两人在演讲采用了相似的同一策略,不断寻求认同,证明了修辞活动的本质和标志是认同。

This study applies Kenneth Burkean “Identification”, including identification by sympathy, identification by inaccuracy and identification by antithesis, to compare the usage of modality between Chinese and English. The result shows that the use of modality reflects the psychological intention of the speaker, which, in some degree, embodies that language is subjective and culture is different. Meanwhile, two speakers adopt similar methods to seek for identification also proves the nature of rhetorical activities is the pursuit of identification.