A Systemic Functional Analysis of Metaphors of Modality in Selected Scientific Texts

Abstract

This study is aimed at analyzing the metaphors of modality in selected scientific texts. Metaphors of modality are expressed via the explicitly subjective and explicitly objective forms of modality. A Systemic Functional Linguistics perspective is adopted to pinpoint and analyze the metaphors of modality. The model of analysis is based on the ideas of Halliday (1985/1994), Martin, Matthiessen, and Painter (1997), Eggins (2004), Thompson (2014), and Halliday and Matthiessen (2004). Data selected for the study include a chapter from a scientific textbook and one issue of a scientific journal. The results show that metaphors of modality are realized through explicit subjective forms an explicit objective forms of modality. They affect the interactiveness of the texts and are employed to establish connections and relations between the writers of scientific texts and the readers of those texts.