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In:The Interpersonal Level in Functional Discourse Grammar
Edited by Monielly Serafim, Matthias Mittendorfer and Kees Hengeveld
[Studies in Language Companion Series 241] 2027
► pp. 96–122

Reassessing modal particles and their role within Discourse Acts

A Functional Discourse Grammar perspective

 | University of Lisbon
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This paper re-examines modal particles (MPs) within the framework of Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG). MPs are syntactically integrated adverbial elements that scope over the entire clause and fine-tune speech acts by modifying illocutionary force in context. Drawing on extensive research on German MPs, the paper first reviews their formal and functional properties. The discussion focuses on two functional domains targeted by MPs — common ground management and illocutionary force specification — and evaluates their compatibility with the notion of the Illocution layer in FDG. The framework is then applied to the analysis of Italian data, which further illuminates the interpersonal strategies encoded by MPs and the role of contextual factors. The results shed light on illocutionary operators in FDG, clarifying their function within Discourse Acts and their relationship with adjacent layers of the Interpersonal Level.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Modal particles
    • 2.1General features of modal particles
    • 2.2Modal particles and common ground management
    • 2.3Modal particles and illocutionary force specification
  • 3.Modal particles in Functional Discourse Grammar
    • 3.1The layer of Illocution in FDG
    • 3.2Illocutionary operators and the status of modal particles in FDG
  • 4.An FDG analysis of Italian pure
    • 4.1Contexts of occurrence and functions of pure as a modal particle
    • 4.2The functions of modal particles as illocutionary operators
  • 5.Modal particles and illocutionary modification in FDG
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Author queries
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations/glossary
  • References
References (67)
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