A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)

A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)A Study of Cognitive NonFactive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations in English (Luận án tiến sĩ)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG TRẦN THỊ MINH GIANG A STUDY OF COGNITIVE NON-FACTIVE VERB AND EPISTEMIC ADVERB COLLOCATIONS IN ENGLISH DOCTORAL THESIS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES Danang, 2018 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG TRẦN THỊ MINH GIANG A STUDY OF COGNITIVE NON-FACTIVE VERB AND EPISTEMIC ADVERB COLLOCATIONS IN ENGLISH Major: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS Code: 62.22.02.01 DOCTORAL THESIS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES SUPERVISOR: Assoc.Prof.Dr LƯU QUÝ KHƯƠNG Danang, 2018 i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgements in the thesis This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution Danang, January 2018 Tran Thi Minh Giang ii ABSTRACT The dissertation is an attempt to describe linguistic features of the structure that consists of the singular first person subject pronoun I and cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations in English in terms of epistemic modality framework Based on the descriptive method and the collected data of 1000 English samples randomly gathered from different sources such as novels, short stories and online materials, the study presented a detailed description of the structure I + cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations in three linguistic aspects: syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics More importantly, a linguistic portray of the interplay of these three linguistic dimensions was depicted to serve the main aim of the research It is hoped that the findings from the research will not only make a great contribution to further understanding of modality in linguistics, but also become very useful to language users in the use of the English structure I + cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations in communication Noticeably, the study provides learners of English and even native speakers of English with a practical knowledge of using the structure Especially, since the study presented detailed and overall view of the structure I + cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations, it is really a good source of reference for teachers of English to apply the English structure in teaching English more effectively In addition, the study of the structure I + cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations in English also opens the paths for interesting questions relative to epistemic modality in particular, and linguistics in general iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS x LIST OF TABLES xii LIST OF FIGURES xiv CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Study 1.2.1 Aims of the Study 1.2.2 Objectives of the Study 1.3 Research Questions 1.4 Object of the Study .4 1.5 Scope of the Study .4 1.6 Significance of the Study .5 1.6.1 Theoretical Significance .5 1.6.2 Practical Significance 1.7 Organization of the Study CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND .7 2.1 Review of Previous Researches Related to the Study 2.1.1 Syntactics 2.1.2 Semantics 11 2.1.3 Pragmatics 16 2.1.4 A Combination of Three Aspects .20 2.2 Theoretical Background .24 2.2.1 Modality and Epistemic Modality 24 iv 2.2.1.1 Traditional Logic Modality 24 2.2.1.2 Linguistic Modality .26 2.2.1.3 The Distinction between Modality and Proposition 27 2.2.1.4 The Distinction between Deontic and Epistemic Modality 28 2.2.1.5 Types of Epistemic Modality 29 2.2.2 Collocations of Cognitive Non- Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverbs .31 2.2.2.1 Modal Lexical Verbs 31 a Mental Space Theory 31 b Cognitive Non-Factive Verbs .32 c Characteristics of Cognitive Non-Factive Verbs 34 2.2.2.2 Modal Adverbs 35 a Epistemic Adverbs 35 b Types of Epistemic Adverbs in English .36 c Characteristics of Epistemic Adverbs .38 2.2.2.3 Cognitive Non- Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations 43 a The Definition of the Term collocation 43 b Modally Harmonic Combinations of a Modal Verb and a Modal Adverb .44 2.2.3 Linguistic Features of CNFV and EA Collocations 46 2.2.3.1 Syntactics .46 a Mobility of Modality Collocations in the Same Clause .46 b Moved Negation and Epistemic Modality 47 2.2.3.2 Semantics .48 a Epistemic Scale 48 b Epistemic Modality Based on Deduction 51 c Speech-Act Related Modality .52 2.2.3.3 Pragmatics 55 a Pragmaticalization and Pragmatic Markers 55 v b Factors Affecting the Mobility of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations .56 c The ‘Conversational Maxim’ View in Communicative Strategies 57 d The ‘Face-Saving’ View in Politeness Theory 58 2.3 Summary 63 CHAPTER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 64 3.1 Research Design 64 3.2 Research Methods 64 3.3 Data Collection 65 3.3.1 Description of Samples .65 3.3.1.1 Authenticity 66 3.3.1.2 Accessibility 66 3.3.1.3 Variation 66 3.3.1.4 Reputation 67 3.3.2 Data Collection Procedure 67 3.3.3 Data Analysis Procedure .68 3.4 Procedures of the Study .69 3.5 Analytical Framework of the Study 70 3.6 Reliability and Validity 72 3.7 Summary 72 CHAPTER SYNTACTIC FEATURES OF THE STRUCTURE I + CNFV AND EA COLLOCATIONS 74 4.1 Analysis of the Structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations 74 4.2 Harmony of Cognitive Non-Factive Verbs and Epistemic Adverbs in the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 76 4.2.1 The Structure I think + EAs 76 4.2.2 The Structure I believe + EAs 80 4.2.3 The Structure I hope + EAs 83 vi 4.2.4 The Structure I guess + EAs .86 4.2.5 The Structure I suppose + EAs 86 4.2.6 The Structure I assume + EAs 87 4.3 Frequency of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations .89 4.4 Mobility of Epistemic Adverbs in the Matrix Clause 90 4.5 Syntactic Positions of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations in the Superordinate Clause 92 4.5.1 Initial 92 4.5.2 Medial 93 4.5.3 Final 94 4.5.4 Frequency of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations in Initial, Medial, and Final Positions .95 4.6 Complementizer “that” in a Superordinate Clause 96 4.6.1 Complementizer “that” with Epistemic Adverbs in the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 97 4.6.2 Omission of Complementizer “that” in the Superordinate Clause .98 4.7 Raising of Negative Form in Sentences with the Structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations 100 4.8 Summary 104 CHAPTER SEMANTIC FEATURES OF THE STRUCTURE I + CNFV AND EA COLLOCATIONS 105 5.1 Deduction-Based Semantic Features .105 5.1.1 The Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations Expressing Belief 105 5.1.2 The Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations Expressing Inference 108 5.1.3 The Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations Expressing Prediction 111 5.1.4 Frequency of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations Showing in Belief, Inference and Prediction 114 5.2 Modal Meanings of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 114 5.2.1 Tentativeness 115 vii 5.2.2 Assertion 116 5.2.3 Negation 117 5.3 Scale of Certainty- Based Semantic Features 118 5.3.1 High Certainty 119 5.3.2 Mid Certainty 121 5.3.3 Low Certainty 123 5.4 Semantic Features of the Structure I think + EAs Based on the Scale of Negation 126 5.5 Summary 128 CHAPTER PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF THE STRUCTURE I + CNFV AND EA COLLOCATIONS 130 6.1 The Structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations Used in Politeness Strategies .130 6.1.1 Negative Politeness Strategy 131 6.1.1.1 Mitigating the Reproach 131 6.1.1.2 Avoiding the Imposition of Knowledge 132 6.1.1.3 Revealing the Speaker’s Unflattering Things 133 6.1.2 Positive Politeness Strategy 134 6.1.2.1 Mitigating Illocutionary Force to Downgrade the Positive Face of the Speaker 135 6.1.2.2 Enhancing the Hearer’s Good Virtues to Respect His Positive Face 136 6.1.2.3 Mitigating the Illocutionary Force of Claims of Knowledge by Negating the Speaker’s Knowledge 137 6.2 The Communicative Strategies Using the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 139 6.2.1 Hedges 139 6.2.2 Mitigation in the Mobility of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 141 viii 6.3 Pragmatic Meanings in Negation of the Structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations .143 6.3.1 Hearer-Oriented Pragmatic Meanings of Moved Negation of the Structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations 143 6.3.2 Mitigating the Illocutionary Force of Claims of Knowledge by Using Moved Negation of the structure I + Cognitive Non-Factive Verb and Epistemic Adverb Collocations 144 6.4 Speech Act – Based Pragmatic Features Expressed by the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 147 6.4.1 Complaining or Admonishing 147 6.4.2 Counselling .149 6.4.3 Reducing Boasting 150 6.5 Summary 152 CHAPTER INTERPLAY OF SYNTACTICS, SEMANTICS, AND PRAGMATICS IN THE STRUCTURE I + CNFV AND EA COLLOCATIONS 154 7.1 Mobility of Epistemic Adverbs in the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocation 154 7.2 Interplay of Three Linguistic Dimensions in the Combination of Just and Other EAs in the Matrix Clause 157 7.3 Interplay of Three Linguistic Aspects in Mobility of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations in a Superordinate Clause .160 7.4 Interplay of Three Linguistic Aspects in the Emphasis by Using Auxiliary Verbs Do in the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 162 7.5 Interplay of Three Linguistic Aspects in Application of the Relevance Theory by Sperber in the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations .164 7.6 Interaction of Three Linguistic Aspects in Negative Move of the Structure I + CNFV and EA Collocations 166 ... understanding of modal meanings in English to improving the quality of teaching and learning English 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Study 1.2.1 Aims of the Study This study aims at examining the linguistic...MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG TRẦN THỊ MINH GIANG A STUDY OF COGNITIVE NON-FACTIVE VERB AND EPISTEMIC ADVERB COLLOCATIONS IN ENGLISH Major: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS... and a cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocation still remains an unexploited area Therefore, the thesis entitled A study of cognitive non-factive verb and epistemic adverb collocations