Ronald K. S. Macaulay
Abstract
This chapter examines the use of modal auxiliaries. There are few social class differences, but some age and gender differences. Females are responsible for the majority of epistemic uses of modals. The adolescents use modal auxiliaries more frequently than the adults. Variation in the use of modals seems to depend more on topic rather than on any social factors.
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This chapter examines the use of modal auxiliaries. There are few social class differences, but some age and gender differences. Females are responsible for the majority of epistemic uses of modals. The adolescents use modal auxiliaries more frequently than the adults. Variation in the use of modals seems to depend more on topic rather than on any social factors.
Key concepts: Modal verb, Modality (human–computer interaction), Modal, Variation (astronomy), Class (philosophy), Linguistics, Psychology, Epistemic modality