9. Varying a Message—Mood, Emotion and Attitude Language is more than a means of giving and receiving information. It is communication between people, often expressing the emotions and attitudes of the speaker and influencing the attitudes and the behaviour of the hearer. In other words, firstly the message may be varied, taking the shape of statements, questions, orders and suggestions and, secondly, an tive emphasis may be added to it A) Statements, questions, orders and suggestions Statements: = to give information’ to express opinion/ to make promises/ for emphasis — we use the declarative mood: e.g. We eat dinner at six. I think he is a brilliant teacher. I shall do everything I can to help you. I do feel sorry for Peter. ‘Questions: we use the interrogative mood; two main types of questions a) Yes/No- questions, the regular answer being Yes/No, but also: sometimes, never. Tag questions are also included here; also “either/or” questions: e.g. Is it a boy or a girl? — A beautiful boy. b) “I7H”-questions (interrogative pronouns and interrogative adverbs) ‘Orders and suggestions: we normally use the imperative mood: a) orders and instructions: e.g. Stop her! Put that gun down! ry it again! b) advice and wamings: e.g. Be sensible. (in negative form, 100) Don’t be afraid of them. Never open the front door without looking through the peephole. ©) appeals: e.g. Come quickly...Come quickly...Hurry! Do help me out! 4) explanations (using the verbs: compare! consider’ contrast’ imagine’ look at! picture/ suppose’ take) e.g. Take, for instance, the new proposals for student loans. But suppose for a ‘moment that... . For example, compare a typical poor country like Indonesia with a rich one like Canada, €) let: itis used in four different ways: for order and instructions followed by “us” when you are making a suggestion about what you and someone else should do/followed by “me” when you are offering to do something, and in very formal English, in order to express a wish: e.g. Let Peter have a look at it. Let’s go outside. Let me take your coat, Let the best man or woman win. Other uses of moods - confirming : declarative mood; e.g. So you admit something is wrong? - instruoting: declarative sentence; .g. You put the month and the temperature on the top line. - offers and invitations: — “yes/no” question beginning with a modal; 85e.g. Can Ihelp you? Would you like some coffee? — imperative mood: e.g. Have a cigar! Go to your place! — do put in front of the verb: 2.8. Do help yourselves! - requests, orders. and instructions: “yes/no” question beginning with a modal e.g. Could 1 ask you a few questions? Will you tell Watson I shalll be in a little late? - thetorical questions: are used to express a strong feeling, opinion or impression: e.g. Can't you see that I’m busy? Does nothing ever worry you? So you want to be an actress, do you? How can you say such @ thing? (to express shock or indignation) ~ questions without a verb: e.g. What about the others on the list? But what of the growing disadvantages of having too many children? - suggestions: modal could in declarative sentences/negative “wh’-questions beginning with why/what about/how about in front of a non-finite clause/imperative mood: eg. We could have tea. Why don’t you write to her yourself? What about becoming an actor? “Give them a reward each,” I suggested, B) Emotive emphasis in speech We shall be dealing mainly with familiar forms of English: 1. Interjections: common ones: oh —surprise!/ah ~ satisfaction, recognition //aha — jubilant satisfaction, recognition//wow — great surprise/'yippee — excitement, delight/ouch ow — ugh — disgust//ooh — pleasure. pain: . Exelamations: what... how....//emphati Repetition: denotes degree ~ extremely; e.g. Its far, far too expensive. You bad, bad boy! 4. Stress on the operator: e.g. That will be nice! (or with “do”: You do look pretty. //Do be quiet!) 5. Intensifving adverbs and modifiers (decree adverbs): very, indeed, utterly, absolute, terribly, great, grand, terrific, fantastic, really, definitely; 6. Intensification of questions and negatives: (use of: ever, on earth, heaven's name + “wh”-question word; How ever did he escape? (I just can’t imagine)/Why on earth didn’t you tell me?//negative sentence + at all/a bit/whoever, whatever.../a wink, a thing/or noun phrase beginning with NOT e.g. She didn’t speak to me at all. They weren’t a bit apologetic. You have no excuse whatever. I didn’t sleep a wink. He didn’t give me a thing. We arrived not a moment too soon. 7. Exclamatory and rhetorical questions: — falling tone: e.g. Hasn’t she grown! Am I hungry! —rising tone with a positive-interrogative verb: e.g. Is that a reason for despair? (Surely that is not a reason for despair) 0." “such” (He's such a nice man! 86+ Describing emotions 1) Liking and disliking: with the help of verbs: like, love, hate, prefer followed by an infinitive clause or an “-ing” elause or a noun phrase object: enjoy, dislike and loathe only take “-ing” clauses: e.g. She likes/loves/hates parties.//to give parties.//giving parties. He enjoys! dislikes/loathes working. 2) Preference: to prefer (Lo/rather than/to + “-ing” clause), e.g. Most people prefer trains to buses. He prefers to rent a car rather than to have one of his own, 3) Anticipation of pleasure: phrases: to be looking forward toenjoy + "-ing” clause: e.g. I'm looking forward to receiving your letter. I know I will enjoy meeting you again. 4) Disappointment and reeret: to be disappointed that/shame, pity that/sorry to ...that wish + subjunetiveiif only + subjunctive/unfortunately; 5) Approval: love/do like/approve of something/exclamations; e.g. What a lovely day! 6) Disapproval: don’t like, don’t care, not think much of: e.g. Idon’t like the way she dresses. I didn’t think much of the orchestra. — more tactfully — we use a question; e.g. Do you have/need to work so late? Why did you do a think like that? 7) Surprise: to be rather surprising/amazing/astonishing that,..//what a... show strange/ odd/astonishing/amazing that... //surprisingly/strangely/ineredibly; e.g. It’s (rather) surprising that so many people come to see these meetings. ‘What a surprise! How strand that he came! 8) Concern, worry: to be a bit, alittle, rather concerned/worried that, about; e.g. I'm a bit/rather/a little concemed about his behaviour. It’s very disturbing that he hasn’t arrived yet 9) Volition. We distinguish four types of volition — willingness: will: eg. Who will lend me a cigarette? — wish: expressing neutral volition, hypothetical eireumstanes tactful, rendered by: want, wish, if only, would rather, would like’prefer, question with “shall” eg. Do you want me to sign those papers? I wish you would listen to me, If only I could remember his name! Would you like me to go? Shall I make a cup of tea? — intention rendered by: intend, mean, aim, be going to, shalliwill person; e.g. He intends to catch the last train, I shall write as soon as [ ean, The remark ‘was meant to hurt her — insistence rendered by insist, to be determined to, will/shall with strong stress; e.g. She insists on doing it herself. They are determined to go there at once. He will try to mend it himself. tentative and the 1% 87= Influen 1 2 10) Permission + obligation/compulsion: — permission: ean, may, to be allowed/permitted, shall 2" and 3" person to express permission given by the speaker); e.g. Can we smoke in here? When Iwas a student I could travel at half price, He shall get his money. You shall do exactly as you wish. Would you mind if I opened the window? — obligation: a) must, have to, got to, to require, need; e.g. You have to sign your name here. I’ve got to finish this essay by tomorrow. I must phone my parents tomorrow. The university requires all students to submit their papers by a given date (formal). Need you work so hard? ) ought to, should, had better, sh: e.g. All students should submit their work by a given date, You'd better be quick, or you'll miss the train. The nominating committee shall nominate ‘one person for the office of President. 11) Prohibition (negation of permission) expressed by cannot, may not, mustn't, shouldn't, oughtn’t, had better not: e.g. You may not go swimming. You mustn’t keep her waiting, ‘You shouldn’t be so impatient, You'd better not go there. 1g people ) Commands — direct commands: e.g. Shut the door. Follow me. — obligation and prohibition: eg. You must be careful. You mustn’t smoke. You're to stay here until I return — abbreviated sentences that do not contain an imperative verb but have the effect of commands: e.g. Out with it! This way! Here! — severe commands: eg. You will do exactly as I say. Officers will report for duty at 18.00 hours. — imperatives: eg. You mind your own business! Will you be quiet! — politer commands: eg. Be careful. Please hurry up. Do come in, Have a drink, why don’t you? Don’t be late, will you? Requests. We ask the hearer whether he is willing or able to do something by using: will/would, can/could, would be very grateful you kindly...2; ‘would appreciate > would, c.g. Will you pass the salt, please? Could you lend me your pen? Won't you come and sit down? I would be extremely grateful if you would write a reference for me Advice. suggestions. and invitations. which are milder than commands. leaving the decision in the hands of the interlocutor/hearer: — advice (ought, should, had better, advise, if [ were...) — suggestions: to suggest, if you like, can, could, might, why don’t you...? ns involving the speaker: I suggest.../shall we.../let’s../ let's not.../why don’t we.../how about.../what about. 884) Invitations: could, would, how would you. 5) Warnings, promises and threats: — warnings (mind, look out, be careful, I warn you, if you're not careful); — promises (I'll let you.../I promise you.../you shall have...) — threats (Ill report if .../don’t you dare.../do that and IlL...stop...or PIU); may L...2, what a pity...: = Vocatives ‘They are used in order to get someone’s attention. Different types: 1) names: John, Mrs. Johnson, Dr Smith, ete. Have you got a minute, Mr. Johnson? Dr Smith, have you seen this report? 2) elements marking respect to a stranger: Sir, madam, ladies and gentlemen, My Lord (to a peer, a bishop, a British judge), Your Honor (to an Am, judge), Your Excellency (to an ambassador), Mr. President, Prime Minister, Father (to a priest) ‘Your Holiness (Pope), Your Eminence (cardinal), Monsignor Ryan, Sister Angelica, Professor Bares, Mr. Mayor, Doctor (to a medical doctor); 3) in family relations: daddy), old man, you guys (familiar AmE), my dear, mom, darling, sweetheart; 4) occupational vocatives (some are rather impolite) : waiter, driver, nurse, operator; 5) for getting attention of a stranger: Excuse me! (BE)/ I beg your pardon ! ‘Pardon ! (AmE). HIGHLIGHT By Modality speakers express attitudes (certainty, probability, possibility, necessity, permission, obligation, prohibition, willingness, etc.) vs. the event, the action or the state contained in the clause = All modal expressions are less categorical than a plain declarative. For this reason modality is said to express a relation to reality, whercas the unmodalized declarative treats the process as reality "By means of modality speakers can intervene in the speech event, by laying obligati permission. *_Inaddition, some other forms ate available for the expression of particular modal meanings. 1 or giving PRACTICE TASKS 1,) Transform the following statements as requested maintaining the meaning of the modal verb used, May Isce Mr. Jones? (past, affirmative) I might go out for a while. (present, interrogative) Might I ask you what you are doing here? (past, indirect speech) ‘They may know the way to our cabin. (present, interrogative) ‘May the best man win! (interrogative) I might just as well wait for him another hour. (negative) ‘You must go to school? (past, interrogative) He was given permission to stay up late. (present, negative) Can you do it yourself? (future) Did you manage to do this? (future, negative) 89‘This might be the way to solve the exervise. (past, negative) I must read this one more time. (future, interrogative) Thad to talk to her before leaving. (present, interrogative) You need not go to school, if you don’t want to. (present, affirmative) 2.) Fill the blank spaces with must or the present, future or past tense form of have to: He sees very badly; he .... Wear glasses all the time. She felt ill and...... leave early. Mr. Stevens ..... cook his own meals. His wife is away for a couple of days. Inever remember his address; [always ..... look it up. You..... read this book. It’s really excellent Thadn’t enough money s0 I..... pay by cheque. The buses were all full. I... get a taxi Tell her that she...... be here at six. Tinsist on it, 1 got lost and...... sk a policeman the way. If you buy that television set, you ..... buy a license for it. When I changed my job I... move to another flat. Whenever the dog wants to go out I... get up and open the door. Passengers .... cross the line by the footbridge, The shops here won't deliver. You ..... carry everything home yourselves. Farmers ..... get up early. 3.) Use shall or will in the blank spaces in the following sentences: Where ..... we meet? Next time I go, you .... come with me. (a promise) be here when we get back? “Who will go to the theatre with me?” “T You can go to sleep: I promise you ...... not be disturbed. If you pull the lever, the roof ..... slide back We...... know the result in a week’s time. Tam determined that my boy...have a better education than I had. What ... Isay? “You forgot to post your letter.” (0 I did. I... go back and post it now not be able to carry it by myself help you.” I'm very sorry about this incident. It... not happen again, I assure you, Ifyou... kindly wait a moment, I'll see what ean be done “It’s very dark here.” “So it is. I... turn on the light.” Iwrite my address on the back? 4.) Supply the modal which corresponds to the paraphrase in each case: I... let you know as soon as Ihave any news. (willingness, promise) After taking our exams we ... go home. (permission) If she ... (is not able to) do it by herself, she ... (it is possible that ...) have to ask you for help. Grandmother is going to the doctor this afternoon so she ... feel well. (deduction) 90‘This ... be enough for three. (prediction) ‘The stake isn’t done yet but ... be soon. (expectation) Five bars of chocolate ... be enough for five children, don’t you think? ~ Well, it depends on the children. (probability, reasonable inference) Thave nothing to do tonight so ... call on them, (possibility) Prices ... to go up while everyone is on holiday. (certainty) ‘They serve five courses at this hotel but ... eat. (negative obligation) Surely that ... be the President’s wife. (impossibility) ‘There .., be a fire somewhere. (necessity) I ... smell burning. (ability) ‘There’s trout on the menu ... order. (desire) We ... get away until the end of August. (impossibility) not tip the waiter. (lack of necessity) not feed the animals at the zoo. (prohibition) Thave plenty of change so ... leave a tip. (willingness) 91