07 - Chapter III PDF

CHAPTER III
CONSTRUING THE REGION OF UNCERTAINTY THROUGH

LEXICOGRAMMAR: MODALISATION AND MODULATION
Modality in English has remained the all time curiosity for linguists. It is imperative that
many linguists of diverse theoretical affiliations have attempted to define it, its concept,
its nature and its types. Palmer (1986: 16) opines that modality is “the
grammaticalisation of speakers’ (subjective) attitudes and opinions.” Depraetere and
Reed (2006: 269) say, “The term ‘modality’ is a cover term for a range of semantic
notions such as ability, possibility, hypotheticality, obligation, and imperative
meaning…all (modal utterances) involve the speaker’s comment on the necessity or
possibility of the truth of a proposition or the actualization of a situation.” Hoye (1997:
38) defines that modality is “the entire semantic field of modal contrasts whether these
be realized lexically, grammatically or prosodically.” Whatever their views of modality,
there is generally a consensus among the linguists that at least two types of modality are
fundamental and pervasive – epistemic modality and deontic modality (Hoye 1997: 42).
This division is recognized by Lyons (1977), Palmer (1979 [1990], 1986 [2001]),
Frawley (1992), De Haan (1997), Van der Auwera and Plungian (1998), Traugott and
Dasher (2002) and Depraetere and Reed (2006). To this, Palmer (1990: 36) adds a third
type, dynamic modality.
Epistemic modality is concerned with matters of knowledge or belief which
form the basis of speaker’s judgement about state of affairs, actions or events in terms
of possibility or necessity (Hoye 1997: 42). Depraetere and Reed (2006: 274) suggest
that it “reflects the speaker’s judgement of the likelihood that the proposition underlying
the utterance is true.” Lyons (1977: 681) opines that it “tends to be concerned with
matters of opinion, rather than fact.” Paul Simpson (1993: 48) elucidate that it is
“concerned with the speaker’s confidence or lack of confidence in the truth of a
proposition expressed.” All these views can be summed up by saying that epistemic
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modality refers to the degree of certainty that the speaker has regarding what he or she
is saying is true.
Deontic modality refers to the “necessity or possibility of acts performed by
morally responsible agents” (Lyons 1977: 823). Hoye (1997: 43) suggests that it deals
with the possibility or necessity of acts in terms of which the speaker gives permission
or lays an obligation for the performance of actions at some point in the future.
Depraetere and Reed (2006:274) assert, “Deontic modality also implies an authority, or
‘deontic source’ – which may be a person, a set of rules, or something as vague as a
social norm – responsible for imposing the necessity (obligation) or granting the
possibility (permission).” Palmer (1986: 16) puts it more clearly in saying that that
deontic modality indicates a kind of directive whereby the speaker issues permission or
lays an obligation for the addressee to do (or not to do) something.
Dynamic modality refers to the expressions of ability or inclination. Quirk et al.
(1985: 221), however, suggest that ability should be included in epistemic (extrinsic)
modality since if a person is able to do something, it is likely that he or she will do it;
thus having the ability to do something is a statement on the likelihood that something
will happen.
In the light of these views on modality, it will seen (after going through the SFL
model of modality) that SFL, which regards modality as a prominent resource to
construe interpersonal meanings in a text, specifies a more elaborate, specific and
functional system of modality which aspires to encompass almost all realizations of
modality.
3.1 SFL Model of Modality
In SFL, modality is defined as ‘the speaker’s judgement, or request of the judgement of
the listener, on the status of what is being said’, as the ‘intermediate degrees, between
the positive and negative poles’ and as a system that construes ‘the region of uncertainty
that lies between ‘yes’ and ‘no” (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 143-147).
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SFL recognizes two types of modality – modalisation and modulation. If the
commodity being exchanged is information, the intermediate possibilities are of two
kinds – the degrees of probability with possibly/probably/certainly as their basic
pointers, and the degrees of usuality with sometimes/usually/always as their main
signposts. The former are equivalent to either yes or no i.e. maybe yes, maybe no, with
different degrees of likelihood attached. The latter are equivalent to both yes and no i.e.
sometimes yes, sometimes no, with different degrees of oftenness attached. It is these
scales of probability and usuality that the term modalisation refers to (Halliday and
Mattheisson 2004: 147). The following are the instances of the probability variant of
modalisation from the data:
1. His Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is believed to have won nearly
three times as many seats as the ruling Party of National Unity in the parallel
parliamentary vote. (The Guardian. News-report 6, clause 40)
2. Because without working through this question, there can be no closure. (The
Indian Express. Editorial 5, clause 17)
3. He may have had no personal hand in the killing of Pakistan's most popular
politician. (The Guardian. Editorial 1, clause 33)
4. The deal will be a compromise for the three parties. (The Hindu. News-report 8,
clause 5)
5. Putin is expected to retain influence over Russia's security services, including
the military and the Federal Security Bureau or FSB, the successor agency to the
KGB. (The Guardian. News-report 4, clause 10)
Likewise, these are the instances of the usuality variant of modalisation. As the usuality
variant of modalisation is not available in the data, therefore, the instances are not from
the data.
1. He often studies late at night.
2. It is usually hot in June.
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Further, if the commodity exchanged is goods and services, there are again two kinds
of intermediate possibilities, depending on the speech function, whether, command or
offer – in a command, they represent degrees of obligation in the form of allowed
to/supposed to/required to; and in an offer, they represent degrees of inclination in the
form of willing to/anxious to/determined to. It is these scales of obligation and
inclination that the term modulation refers to (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 147).
SFL recognizes another category that can be included in modulation, it is of
ability/potentiality (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 621). The following are the
instances of the obligation variant of modulation from the data
1. The army should guarantee the stability of the country and its nuclear arsenal, if
necessary under foreign supervision. (The Guardian. Editorial 1, clause 47)
2. Politics has to rise to the occasion. (The Indian Express. Editorial 5, clause 26)
3. General (retd) Musharraf must accept total responsibility for this (22) terrorist
outrage. (The Statesman. Editorial 1, clause 24)
4. End to bloodletting must precede diplomacy. (The Statesman. Editorial 2,
clause 1)
5. the country must now gear up for the dispensation under Morgan Tsvangirai and his
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). (The Statesman. Editorial 3, clause 7)
These are the instances of the inclination variant of modulation. Again, since the
inclination variant of modulation is not available in the data, therefore, the instances are
not from the data.
1. She is willing to stay in the hills.
2. He is inclined to oblige us.
And these are the instances of the ability variant of modulation from the data:
1. Mr Musharraf may call for calm, (but he has few means at his disposal). (The
Guardian. Editorial 1, clause 31)
2. …for all his failings, he may yet boast a modest support base. (The Statesman.
Editorial 3, clause 10)
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Thus, in all there are five variants of modality – probability and usuality
referred to as modalisation, and obligation, inclination and ability referred to as
modulation.
Going ahead, modality involves degrees and scales in terms of which the
speaker commits himself or herself to the validity of what he or she is saying.
Geoff Thompson (1996: 69) specifies, “The speaker may, for example, signal a
higher or lower degree of certainty about the validity of a proposition (‘it
will/may rain’); or a higher or lower degree of pressure on the other person to
carry out a command (‘you must/should leave’).” SFL suggests three basic
values of modality –high, median and low (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004:
148). The following instances taken from the data exemplify these three values
of modality in descending order in both the modalisation and modulation
variants:
1. Irreparable must be the country’s moral defeat. (The Statesman. Editorial 1,
clause 10)
2. The next president will inherit horrendous economic problems. (The Guardian.
News-report 9, clause 18)
3. …what was perhaps McCain’s strongest argument against the freshman
lawmaker. (The Indian Express. News-report 9, clause 82)
Taking insights from Halliday and Mattheisson (2004), modal finites like shall, must,
need to, have to etc. are kept in the category of those that signify high value, like
should, would, will, ought to etc. in the category of those that signify median value, and
like may, might can, could etc in the category of those that signify low value. Similarly,
modal adjuncts like certainly, always, surely etc. are rated high valued, like probably,
often, usually are regarded as median valued and possibly, sometimes etc. are
considered low valued. Further, expansions of the predicator like required to,
determined to etc. communicate high value, like supposed to, keen to, inclined to, likely
to, expected to, believed to etc. signify median value, and like allowed to, willing to etc.
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connote low value. Furthermore, separate clauses like I know, I am sure, it is certain
etc. are signifiers of high value, like I think, I feel, it is expected, it is believed, it is
likely etc, of median value, and I imagine, it is possible, etc. of low value.
One important thing to understand in this regard is the role of the negative in
determining the value of modality. It does not affect the median value where the value
of the modality remains the same whether the negative is attached to the modality or the
proposition as in the following:
1. Kenya is the one African country where this shouldn't happen. (The Daily
Telegraph. Editorial 2, clause 2)
But in the case of the two outer value, high and low, there is a shift from high to low, or
from low to high, if the negative is transferred from the proposition to modality
(Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 149).
Further, the resources to construe modality in a text are modal finites (MF),
mood adjuncts (MA), expansions of the predicator (EP), separate clauses (SC)
and prepositional phrases (PP). Of these, modal finites and mood adjuncts are used
to signal modality in the Mood Block. The Finite, as is said in section 1.8.3, relates
the proposition either to tense or to modality. Generally, a modal finite
communicates the speaker’s attitude at the time of speaking, and therefore the
tense it indicates is usually the present tense. It is therefore that form such as
‘might’ and ‘could’, which historically are regarded as past tense forms of ‘may’
and ‘can’, typically do not function as past tense in modern English (Geoff
Thompson 1996: 68). However, there are certain contexts where the modal finite
signifies past tense in addition to modality, especially, when another person’s
modality in the past is being reported (Geoff Thompson 1996: 68). In the following
instances taken from the data ‘may’ can be substituted for ‘might’ with practically
no difference in meaning.
1. …under his presidency Russian foreign policy may become less confrontational.
(The Independent. News-report 9, clause 9)
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2. Although some royalists may oppose the motion to be put to the
assembly. (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 8, clause 13)
The following instances exemplify the use of modal finite as a resource to construe
modality:
1. They will be joined in the capital by up to three Iraqi army divisions from the
Kurdish north. (The Guardian. News-report 1, clause 26)
2. Mr Obama will assume the leadership of a nation facing a daunting economic
crisis and mired in two wars. (The Statesman. News-report 9, clause 19)
3. This could well be the case. (The Guardian. Editorial 1, clause 39)
4. This question should be kept for latter. (The Indian Express. Editorial 4, clause
23)
5. Both the regime and the old man who created it may be going down kicking.
(The Guardian. Editorial 3, clause 23)
Similarly, Mood adjunct, another resource for grammaticalising modality in the Mood
Block, is ‘closely associated with the meanings construed by the mood system: modality
and temporality and also intensity’ (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 126). The
following instances show Mood adjunct conveying modality:
1. North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il was markedly less enthusiastic in welcoming
his South Korean counterpart Roh Moo-hyun. (The Guardian. News-report 2,
clause 7)
2. The loss of Ohio… almost certainly snuffed out his presidential ambitions.
(The Daily Telegraph. News-report 9, clause 9)
3. A small cabal of politicians almost certainly stole the result by fraud. (The
Indian Express. Editorial 2, clause 15)
4. Certainly, the general election slated for January 8 has now been rendered
devoid of all meaning. (The Indian Express. Editorial 1, clause 15)
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5. The return to civilian rule and the parliamentary elections, now less than two
weeks away, are both surely threatened. (The Independent. Editorial 1, clause
30)
6. Perhaps Zimbabwe's octogenarian despot has finally wearied of maintaining his
iron grip. (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 7, clause 21)
7. With the backing of Mr Putin and the machinery of the state, Mr Medvedev is
almost guaranteed to win the March elections. (The Independent. News-report
4, clause 19)
Here it is to be considered that modality can also be construed by a combination of
modal finite and mood adjunct as in the following instances:
1. Mr Medvedev will also - crucially perhaps - be seen as someone. (The Daily
Telegraph. News-report 4, clause 30)
2. A win there for Mr Obama would almost certainly signal a convincing overall
victory for him. (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 9, clause 26)
3. …it will almost certainly be passed (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 8,
clause 14)
4. All the violence should certainly be condemned. (The Indian Express. Editorial
2, clause 24)
Another resource to construe modality is the expansion of the predicator i.e. the use of
passive forms such as ‘supposed to’ or ‘obliged to’, with a separate non- modal finite.
The following instances from the data exemplify its usage:
1. The Putin-Medvedev tandem is likely to continue after the presidential election.
(The Hindu. News-report 4, clause 17)
2. …the unpopular King Gyanendra is expected to vacate his palace in the capital
Kathmandu soon after the vote. (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 8, clause 15)
3. Mr. Obama is expected to move quickly to begin assembling a White House
staff and selecting Cabinet nominees. (The Hindu. News-report 9, clause 38)
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4. He is seen as a compromise candidate. (The Independent. News-report 4, clause
13)
5. Mr Medvedev… appears to be a compromise choice. (The Daily Telegraph.
News-report 4, clause 16)
6. …but the Government seems to be ready to offer him a reasonable time to make
alternative arrangements. (The Indian Express. News-report 8, clause 17)
Next, a proposition can be invested with the modality through the use of a separate
clause. For instance:
1. It is expected that Shia strongholds such as Sadr city would be targeted. (The
Hindu. News-report 1, clause 22)
2. It seems unlikely that any of the gains of recent months can be maintained.
(The Independent. Editorial 1, clause 26)
3. And even if, as is probable, he had no part whatever in her death.. (The
Independent. Editorial 1, clause 33)
And finally, a prepositional phrase is another resource to construe modality. Here is an
instance:
1. In all likelihood, the post of the Speaker would go to the CPN-UML. (The
Indian Express. News-report 8, clause 15)
Another issue involved in the concept of modality is modal responsibility. Geoff

Thompson (1996: 70) puts it, “Speakers may express their point of view in a way that
makes it clear that this is their subjective point of view; or they may do it in a way that
‘objectivizes’ the point of view by making it appear to be a quality of the event itself.”
In SFL, modal elements are graded according to how far the speaker overtly accepts
responsibility for the attitude being communicated. The four gradations are identified in
terms of modal responsibility – subjective implicit, objective implicit, subjective explicit
and objective explicit. Subjective implicit orientation is construed by modal finites since
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they ‘exploit the Finite slot and thus are firmly rooted in the interpersonal, subjective
meanings of the clause’ (Geoff Thompson 1996: 71). For instance:
1. …but most of the diplomatic pressure should be exerted on Mr Kibaki’s
supposed new Government to annul the results and organise a recount — or a
new vote. (The Indian Express. Editorial 6, clause 25)
2. …for all his protestations of loyalty, (he) may grow confident enough to resist
Mr Putin's influence. (The Daily Telegraph. News-report 4, clause 34)
Further, objective implicit orientation is grammaticalised by Mood Adjuncts which ‘are
a step closer to the objective end of the spectrum, in that they use one of the Adjunct
slots that are typically used to express ‘real-world’ features of the event’ (Geoff
Thompson 1996: 71). The instances of objective implicit orientation are as follows:
1. With the backing of Mr Putin and the machinery of the state, Mr Medvedev is
almost guaranteed to win the March elections. (The Independent. News-report
4, clause 19)
2. Ms. Bhutto’s car had apparently sped away from the scene. (The Hindu. News-
report 5, clause 27)
The expansion of the predicator is another resource to realize the objective implicit
orientation. For instance:
8. Mr Putin is nevertheless, expected to continue wielding influence. (The
Independent. News-report 4, clause 35)
9. It appears to be the course on which the hardliners around Mr Mugabe have decided.
(The Guardian. Editorial 3, clause 10)
10. King Gyanendra is believed to have said he tried to serve the country to the best
of his ability. (The Indian Express. News-report 8, clause 7)
Objectification of point of view is more emphatic in the objective explicit orientation than in
the objective implicit orientation. Objective explicit orientation is construed by separate
clauses that typically begin with ‘it’ or ‘there’. It is also realized by prepositional phrases
such as ‘in all likelihood’, ‘to some extent’, ‘in all probability’ etc. Likewise, subjectification
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of point of view is more emphatic in the subjective explicit orientation than in the subjective
implicit orientation. Subjective explicit orientation is construed by separate clauses that
generally begin with personal pronouns. Sometimes prepositional phrases such as ‘in my
opinion’, ‘in my view’ etc. are also used to grammaticalise this orientation.
Towards the end, it is to be understood that the term ‘implicit’ is used when the
modality is expressed in the same clause as the main proposition either by modal finite
or by Mood Adjunct or by the Expansions of the predicator. However, in order to say
‘explicitly that the probability is subjective, or alternatively, at the other end, to claim
explicitly that the probability is objective, the speaker construes the proposition as a
projection and encode the subjectivity (I think), or the objectivity (it is likely), in a
projecting clause’ (Halliday and Mattheisson 2004: 615). It is further elaborated, “The
explicitly subjective and the explicitly objective forms of modality are all strictly
speaking metaphorical, since all of them represent the modality as being the substantive
proposition. Modality represents the speaker’s angle, either on the validity of the
assertion or on the rights and wrongs of the proposal; in its congruent form, it is an
adjunct to a proposition rather than a proposition in its own right” (Halliday and
Mattheisson 2004: 624).
The section 3.2 comprises tables that show the findings the analysis of modality
in the data brings forward. This is followed by a discussion on these findings and the
formulation of generalizations in section 3.3.
3.2 Analysis and the Findings
In this section, there are one hundred and twenty tables that show the occurrence of
modalised and modulated expressions, their degree, their orientation and the resources
used for their grammaticalisation in the data. The first eighty tables concern the findings
related to news-reports and the remaining forty are about those related to editorials. The
first table on each page is about the findings in the Indian newspapers and the second
one about those in the British newspapers. In these tables, ‘T’ denotes total number of
clauses and ‘M’ modal clauses; ‘H’, ‘M’ and ‘L’ stand for ‘High value’, ‘Median value’
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and ‘Low value’ respectively; ‘SE’ is to be read as subjective explicit , ‘SI’ as subjective
implicit, ‘OE’ as objective explicit and ‘OI’ as objective implicit; and finally, ‘MF’ is
modal finite, ‘MA’ is modal adjunct, ‘SC’ is separate clause and ‘EP’ is expansion of
the predicator.
Tables I and II show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.
Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

(Probability (Usuality) (Obligation) (Inclination) (Ability)
The - - - - - T-25
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-1 - - - - T-25
M-1
The Indian - - - - - T-24
Express M-0
Total M-1 T- 74
M-1
Table – I

(Probability) (Usuality) (Obligation) (Inclination) (Ability)
The Daily - - - - - T-33
Telegraph M-0
The M-3 - - - - T-33
Guardian M-3
The - - - - - T-18
Independent M-0
Total M-3 T-84

M-3
Table – II
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Twin blasts in Iraq
119
Tables III and IV show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq in the
Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu H-0 - - - - H- 0
M-1 M-1
L -0 L- 0
The Indian - - - - - -
Express
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-1 M-1
L- 0 L- 0
Table – III

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The H- 0 - - - - H- 0
Guardian M-3 M-3
L- 0 L- 0
The - - - -- - -
Independent
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-3 M-3
L- 0 L- 0
Table – IV
Modality: Value - Twin blasts in Iraq
120
As in terms of orientation modality is sub-categorized as subjective explicit , subjective
implicit, objective explicit and objective implicit, Tables V and VI quote the number of
occurrences of each of these four categories of modality in the news-reports concerning
twin blasts in Iraq in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively..

The - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu OE-1 - - - - OE-1
Express
Total SI – 0 - - - - SI- 0
SE-0 SE -0
OI –0 OI -0
OE-1 OE-1
Table – V

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The SI–1 - - - - SI–1
Guardian OI-2 OI-2
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total SI –1 - - - - SI –1
SE-0 SE-0
OI-2 OI-2
OE-0 OE-0
Table – VI
Modality: Orientation - Twin blasts in Iraq
121
The resources for grounding modality in the clause are identified as modal finite, modal
adjunct, separate clause and expansion of the predicator. The number of each of these
resources in the news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq is given in the Tables VII and
VIII.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu SC -1 - - - - SC -1
Express
Total MF – 0 - - - - MF-0
EP - 0 EP- 0
MA - 0 MA-0
SC -1 SC-1
Table – VII

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The MF-1 - - - - MF-1
Guardian EP-1 EP-1
MA-1 MA-1
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total MF – 1 - - - - MF-1
EP - 1 EP -1
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC - 0 SC- 0
Table – VIII
Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate clause/Expansion

of the Predicator - Twin blasts in Iraq
122
Tables IX and X show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the news-
reports related to North and South Koreas signing a pact for peace in the Indian and the
British newspapers respectively.

The M-1 - - - - T-19
Statesman M-1
The Hindu - - - - - T-19
M-0
The Indian M-3 - - - - T-26
Express M-3
Total M-4 - - - - T-64
M-4
Table – IX

The Daily - - - - - T-16
Telegraph M-0
The M-2 - - - - T-46
Guardian M-2
The M-1 - - - - T-16
Independent M-1
Total M-3 - - - - T-78
M-3
Table – X
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - North and South Koreas signing a

pact for peace
123
Tables XI and XII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to North and South Koreas
signing a pact for peace in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The H-0 - - - H-0
Statesman M-1 M-1
L -0 L -0
The Hindu - - - - - -
The Indian H-0 - - - - H-0

Express M-2 M-2
L -1 L -1
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-3 M-3
L- 1 L- 1
Table – XI

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The H-0 - - - - H-0

Guardian M-2 M-2
L -0 L -0
The H-0 - - - - H-0
Independent M-1 M-1
L -0 L -0
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-3 M-3
L- 0 L- 0
Table – XII
Modality: Value - North and South Koreas signing a pact for

peace
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Tables XIII and XIV quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
objective explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in the news-
reports concerning North and South Koreas signing a pact for peace in the Indian and
the British newspapers respectively.

The OI -1 - - - - OI-1
Statesman
The Hindu - - - - - -
The Indian SI-3 SI-3
Express
Total SI – 3 - - - - SI –3
SE –0 SE -0
OI –1 OI–1
OE-0 OE-0
Table – XIII

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The OI–2 - - - - OI–2
Guardian
The OI -1 - - - - OI–1
Independent
Total SI – 0 - - - - SI - 0
SE –0 SE -0
OI –3 OI -3
OE-0 OE-0
Table – XIV
Modality: Orientation - North and South Koreas signing a pact for peace
125
Tables XV and XVI show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to North and South Koreas signing a
pact for peace in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The EP - 1 - - - - EP- 1
Statesman
The Hindu - - - - - -
The Indian MF -3 - - - - MF-3
Express
Total MF – 3 - - - - MF-3
EP - 1 EP- 1
MA - 0 MA-0
SC -0 SC-0
Table – XV

The Daily - - - - - -
Telegraph
The EP-1 - - - - EP-1
Guardian MA-1 MA-1
The EP-1 - - - - EP-1
Independent
Total MF – 0 - - - - MF-0
EP - 2 EP- 2
MA - 1 MA-1
SC - 0 SC-0
Table – XVI

of the Predicator - North and South Koreas signing a pact for peace
126
Tables XVII and XVIII show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth in the Indian
and the British newspapers respectively.
The - - - - - T-15
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-2 - - - - T-20
M-2
Express M-0
Total M-2 - - - - T-51
M-2
Table –XVII

The Daily M-3 - - - - T-28
Telegraph M-3
The - - - - - T-15
Guardian M-0
The - - - - - T-19
Independent M-0
Total M-3 - - - - T-62
M-3
Table – XVIII
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Pakistan’s suspension from

the Commonwealth
127
Tables XIX and XX show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension
from the Commonwealth in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu M-2 - - - - M-2
Express
Total H- 0 - - - - H-0
M-2 M-2
L- 0 L- 0
Table – XIX

The Daily M-2 - - - - M-2
Telegraph L- 1 L- 1
The - - - - - -
Guardian
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-2 M-2
L- 1 L- 1
Table – XX
Modality: Value - Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth
128
Tables XXI and XXII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth in the Indian and the
British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu OI-2 - - - - OI-2
Express
Total SI –0 - - - - SI –0
SE – 0 SE- 0
OI –2 OI–2
OE-0 OE-0
Table – XXI

The Daily SI–3 - - - - SI-3
Telegraph
The - - - - - -
Guardian
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total SI –3 - - - - SI –3
OI – 0 OI -0
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – XXII
Modality: Orientation - Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth
129
Tables XXIII and XXIV show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension from the
Commonwealth in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu EP-2 - - - - EP-2
Express
Total MF – 0 - - - - MF-0
EP - 2 EP- 2
MA -0 MA -0
SC -0 SC-0
Table – XXIII

The Daily MF – 3 - - - - MF – 3
Telegraph
The - - - - - -
Guardian
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total MF – 3 - - - - MF-3
EP - 0 EP -0
MA -0 MA -0
SC -0 SC-0
Table – XXIV

of the Predicator - Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth
130
Tables XXV and XXVI show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor in the

The - - - - - T-18
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-2 - M-1 - - T-22
M-3
Express M-0
Total M-2 - M-1 - - T-61
M-3
Table – XXV

The Daily M-8 - - - - T-42
Telegraph M-8
The M-3 - - - - T-32
Guardian M-3
The M-7 - - - - T-63
Independent M-7
Total M-18 - - - - T-137
M-18
Table – XXVI
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev

as his successor
131
Tables XXVII and XXVIII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Vladimir Putin
naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu M-2 M-1 M-3
Express
Total H- 0 H- 0 H- 0
M-2 M-1 M-3
L- 0 L- 0 L- 0
Table – XXVII

Telegraph L- 2 L- 2
The M-3 - - - - M-3
Guardian
The M-6 - - - - M-6
Independent L-1 L-1
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-15 M-15
L- 3 L- 3
Table – XXVIII
Modality: Value - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor
132
Tables XXIX and XXX quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor in the

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu OI -2 - SI - 1 - - SI - 1
OI -2
Express
Total SI –0 - SI-1 - - SI 1
OI – 2 OI –
SE- 0 2
OE -0 SE- 0
OE -
0
Table – XXIX

The Daily SI–5 - - - - SI–5
Telegraph OI–3 OI–3
The SI - 1 - - - - SI - 1
Guardian OI -2 OI -2
The SI –3 - - - - SI –3
Independent OI-4 OI-4
Total SI –9 - - - - SI –9
OI – 9 OI- 9
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – XXX
Modality: Orientation - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his

successor
133
Tables XXXI and XXXII show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry
Medvedev as his successor in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu EP -2 MF-1 MF-1
EP-2
Express
Total MF – 0 - MF – 1 - - MF-1
EP - 2 EP - 0 EP -2
MA - 0 MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0 SC-0
Table – XXXI

The Daily MF – 5 - - - - MF-5
Telegraph EP - 3 EP -3
The MF-1 - - - - MF-1
Guardian EP-2 EP-2
The MF –3 - - - - MF-3
Independent EP -3 EP -3
MA-1 MA- 1
Total MF – 9 - - - - MF-9
EP - 8 EP- 8
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC - 0 SC-0
Table – XXXII

of the Predicator - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor
134
Tables XXXIII and XXXIV show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in
the news-reports related to Benazir’s assassination in the Indian and the British
newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - T-52
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-1 - - - - T-54
M-1
Express M-0
Total M-1 - - - - T-191
M-1
Table – XXXIII

The Daily M-4 - - - - T-78
Telegraph M-4
The M-2 - - - - T-70
Guardian M-2
The M-3 - M-1 - - T-100
Independent M-4
Total M-9 - M-1 - - T - 248
M-10
Table – XXXIV
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Benazir’s Assassination
135
Tables XXXV and XXXVI show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Benazir’s
assassination in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The
Statesman
The Hindu L -1 L-1
The Indian
Express
M-0 M-0 M-0
L- 1 L-1 L- 1
Table – XXXV

The Daily
Telegraph L- 4 L- 4
The M-1 M-1
Guardian L- 1 L- 1
The M-0 M-1 M-1
Independent L-3 L-3
M-1 M-1 M-2
L- 8 L-0 L- 8
Table – XXXVI
Modality: Value - Benazir’s Assassination
136
Tables XXXVII and XXXVIII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective
implicit, objective explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports concerning Benazir’s assassination in the Indian and the British
newspapers respectively..

The
Statesman
The Hindu OI -1 OI-1
The Indian
Express
Total SE –0 SE -0
SI – 0 SI - 0
OI –1 OI -1
OE-0 OE-0
Table – XXXVII

The Daily SI–1 SI–1
The SI–2 SI–2
Guardian
The SI -3 SI - 1 SI–4
Independent
Total SI –6 SI – 1 SI –7
OI – 3 OI- 3
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – XXXVIII
Modality: Orientation - Benazir’s Assassination
137
Tables XXXIX and XL show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to Benazir’s assassination in the Indian

The
Statesman
The Hindu MA - 1 MA - 1
The Indian
Express
Total MF –0 MF-0
EP - 0 EP- 0
MA - 1 MA -1
SC -0 SC-0
Table – XXXIX

The Daily MF – 1 MF-1
Telegraph EP - 3 EP- 3
The MF -2 MF-2
Guardian
The MF -3 MF -1 MF-4
Independent
Total MF – 6 MF -1 MF-7
EP - 3 EP -3
MA - 0 MA -0
SC - 0 SC-0
Table – XL

of the Predicator - Benazir’s Assassination
138
Tables XLI and XLII show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to post-election violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British

The M-1 - - - - T-32
Statesman M-1
The Hindu - - - - - T-25
M-0
Express M-0
Total M-1 - - - - T-74
M-1
Table – XLI

The Daily M-5 - - - - T-28
Telegraph M-5
The M-3 - - - - T-58
Guardian M-3
The - - - - - T-47
Independent M-0
Total M-8 - - - - T-133
M-8
Table – XLII
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Post-election violence in Kenya
139
Tables XLIII and XLIV show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to post-election
violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The M-1 - - - - M-1
Statesman
The Hindu - - - - - -
Express
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-1 M-1
L- 0 L- 0
Table – XLIII

Telegraph L- 2 L- 2
The M-3 - - - - M-3
Guardian
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-6 M-6
L- 2 L- 2
Table – XLIV
Modality: Value - Post-election violence in Kenya
140
Tables XLV and XLVI state the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning post-election violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British

The SI-1 - - - - SI-1
Statesman
The Hindu - - - - - -
Express
Total SI –1 - - - - SI –1
OI –0 OI- 0
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – XLV

The SI–2 - - - - SI–2
Guardian OI-1 OI-1
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total SI –5 - - - - SI –5
OI – 3 OI -3
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – XLVI
Modality: Orientation - Post-election violence in Kenya
141
Tables XLVII and XLVIII show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to post-election violence in Kenya in the

The MF - 1 MF - 1
Statesman
The Hindu - - - - - -
Express
Total MF – 1 MF – 1
EP - 0 EP - 0
MA -0 MA -0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – XLVII

The Daily MF – 3 - - - - MF – 3
Telegraph EP - 2 EP - 2
The MF-2 - - - - MF-2
Guardian EP-1 EP-1
The - - - - - -
Independent
Total MF – 5 - - - - MF – 5
EP - 3 EP - 3
MA -0 MA -0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – XLVIII
Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate

clause/Expansion of the Predicator - Post-election violence in Kenya
142
Tables XLIX and L show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the news-
reports related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament in the

The - - - - - T-12
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-1 - - - - T-21
M-1
Express M-0
Total M-1 - - - - T-49
M-1
Table – XLIX

The Daily M-4 - - - - T-27
Telegraph M-4
The M-6 - - - - T-41
Guardian M-6
The M-9 - M-1 - - T-50
Independent M-10
Total M-19 - M-1 - - T-118
M-20
Table – L
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Robert Mugabe losing

majority in Zimbabwen Parliament
143
Tables LI and LII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Robert Mugabe losing
majority in Zimbabwean Parliament in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
Express
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-1 M-1
L-0 L-0
Table – LI

Telegraph L- 2 L- 2
The M-3 - - - - M-3
Guardian L- 3 L- 3
The M-5 - M-1 - - M-6
Independent L- 4 L- 4
Total H- 0 - H-0 - - H- 0
M-10 M-1 M-11
L- 9 L-0 L- 9
Table – LII
Modality: Value - Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament
144
Tables LIII and LIV quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament in the

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu SI -1 - - - - SI -1
Express
Total SI –1 - - - - SI –1
OI – 0 OI- 0
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – LIII

Telegraph
The SI–5 - - - - SI–5
Guardian OI-1 OI-1
The SI – 8 SI – 1 SI –9
Total SI –17 SI –1 SI-18
OI – 2 OI – 0 OI- 2
SE- 0 SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE - 0 OE-0
Table – LIV
Modality: Orientation - Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean

Parliament
145
Tables LV and LVI show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the selected news-reports related to Robert Mugabe losing
respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu MF – 1 - - - - MF-1
Express
Total MF – 1 - - - - MF – 1
EP - 0 EP - 0
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – LV

The Daily MF – 4 - - - - MF – 4
Telegraph
The MF –5 - - - - MF –5
Guardian EP -1 EP -1
The MF – 8 - MF –1 - - MF – 9
Independent EP -1 EP -1
Total MF – 17 - MF-1 - - MF- 18
EP - 2 EP - 2
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – LVI

of the Predicator - Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament
146
Tables LVII and LVIII show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to Nepal becoming a republic in the Indian and the British

The - - - - - T-7
Statesman M-0
The Hindu M-4 - - - - T-15
M-4
Express M-4
Total M-8 - - - - T-42
M-8
Table – LVII

The Daily M-5 - - - - T-16
Telegraph M-5
The M-2 - M-1 - - T-55
Guardian M-3
The M-7 - - - - T-51
Independent M-7
Total M-14 - M-1 - - T-122
M-15
Table – LVIII
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Nepal becoming a republic
147
Tables LIX and LX show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Nepal becoming a
republic in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Indian M-4 - - - - M-4

Express
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-8 M-8
L- 0 L- 0
Table – LIX

Telegraph L- 1 L- 1
The M-2 - M-1 - - M-3
Guardian
The M-4 - - - - M-4
Independent L- 3 L- 3
Total H- 0 - H- 0 - - H- 0
M-10 M-1 M-11
L- 4 L- 0 L- 4
Table – LX
Modality: Value - Nepal becoming a republic
148
Tables LXI and LXII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning Nepal becoming a republic in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu SI - 4 - - - - SI - 4
The Indian OI –4 - - - - OI -4
Express
Total SI –4 - - - - SI –4
OI – 4 OI -4
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – LXI

The SI–2 - SI -1 - - SI -3
Guardian
The SI–5 - - - - SI–5
Total SI –9 - SI – 1 - - SI-10
OI – 5 OI- 5
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – LXII
Modality: Orientation - Nepal becoming a republic
149
Tables LXIII and LXIV show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to Nepal becoming a republic in the

The - - - - - -
Statesman
The Hindu MF – 4 - - - - MF – 4
The Indian EP-3 - - - - EP-3

Express MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 4 - - - - MF – 4
EP - 3 EP - 3
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC -0 SC -0
Table – LXIII

The Daily MF – 2 - - - - MF – 2
Telegraph EP - 3 EP - 3
The MF -2 - MF -1 - - MF -3
Guardian
The MF – 5 - - - - MF – 5
Independent EP - 2 EP - 2
Total MF – 9 - MF -1 - - MF 10
EP - 5 EP - 5
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – LXIV

of the Predicator - Nepal becoming a republic
150
Tables LXV and LXVI show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
news-reports related to Barack Obama winning the US presidential election in the

The M-1 - - - - T-29
Statesman M-1
The Hindu M-1 - - - - T-38
M-1
Express M-2
Total M-4 - - - - T-158
M-4
Table – LXV

The Daily M-7 - - - - T-55
Telegraph M-7
The M-2 - - - - T-39
Guardian M-2
The M-10 - - - - T-90
Independent M-10
Total M-19 - - - - T-184
M-19
Table – LXVI
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Barack Obama winning the US

presidential election
151
Tables LXVII and LXVIII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The M-1 - - - - M-1
Statesman

Express L-1 L-1
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-3 M-3
L- 1 L- 1
Table – LXVII

Telegraph
The M-2 - - - - M-2
Guardian
The M-7 - - - - M-7
Independent L-3 L-3
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-16 M-16
L- 3 L- 3
Table – LXVIII
Modality: Value - Barack Obama winning the US presidential

election
152
Tables LXIX and LXX quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
reports concerning Barack Obama winning the US presidential election in the Indian

The SI -1 - - - - SI -1
Statesman
The Hindu OI -1 - - - - OI -1
The Indian SI – 1 - - - - SI –1
Express OI –1 OI -1
Total SI –2 - - - - SI –2
OI – 2 OI- 2
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – LXIX

The SI–2 - - - - SI–2
Guardian
The SI – 7 - - - - SI –
Independent O1-3 7
O1-3
Total SI –14 - - - - SI-14
OI – 5 OI- 5
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – LXX
Modality: Orientation - Barack Obama winning the US presidential election
153
Tables LXXI and LXXII show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to Barack Obama winning the US
presidential election in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The MF - 1 - - - - MF - 1
Statesman
The Hindu EP - 1 - - - - EP - 1
The Indian MF-1 - - - - MF-1

Express MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 2 - - - - MF – 2
EP-1 EP-1
MA-1 MA-1
SC-0 SC-0
Table – LXXI

The Daily MF – 5 - - - - MF – 5
Telegraph EP – 1 EP – 1
MA-1 MA-1
The MF – 2 - - - - MF – 2
Guardian
The MF – 7 - - - - MF – 7
Independe EP – 2 EP – 2
nt MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 14 - - - - MF -14
EP - 3 EP - 3
MA - 2 MA - 2
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – LXXII

of the Predicator - Barack Obama winning the US presidential election
154
Tables LXXIII and LXXIV show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in
the news-reports related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the Indian and the British

The M-3 - - - - T-50
Statesman M-3
The Hindu M-1 - - - - T-46
M-1
Express M-2
Total M-6 - - - - T-115
M-6
Table – LXXIII

The Daily M-1 - - - - T-24
Telegraph M-1
The M-1 - - - - T-44
Guardian M-1
The M-1 - - - - T-31
Independent M-1
Total M-3 - - - - T-99
M-3
Table – LXXIV
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
155
Tables LXXV and LXXVI show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the news-reports related to 26/11 terror
attack on Mumbai in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The M-1 - - - - M-1
Statesman L -2 L -2
Express L -1 L -1
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-3 M-3
L- 3 L- 3
Table – LXXV

Telegraph
The L-1 - - - - L-1
Guardian
The L-1 - - - - L-1
Independent
Total H- 0 - - - - H- 0
M-1 M-1
L- 2 L- 2
Table – LXXVI
Modality: Value - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
156
Tables LXXVII and LXXVIII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective
news-reports concerning 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the Indian and the British

The SI - 2 - - - - SI - 2
Statesman OI-1 OI-1
The Hindu OI -1 - - - - OI -1
The Indian SI - 1 - - - - SI - 1
Express OI-1 OI-1
Total SI –3 - - - - SI –3
OI – 3 OI- 3
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE -0 OE-0
Table – LXXVII

The Daily OI–1 - - - - OI–1
Telegraph
The SI–1 - - - - SI–1
Guardian
The SI – 1 - - - - SI- 1
Independent
Total SI –2 - - - - SI –2
OI – 1 OI- 1
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – LXXVIII
Modality: Orientation - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
157
Tables LXXIX and LXXX show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the news-reports related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the

The MF – 2 - - - - MF – 2
Statesman EP -1 EP -1
The Hindu EP - 1 - - - - EP - 1
The Indian MF – 1 - - - - MF – 1
Express EP -1 EP -1
Total MF – 3 - - - - MF – 3
EP - 3 EP - 3
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC -0 SC -0
Table – LXXIX

The Daily EP - 1 - - - - EP - 1
Telegraph
The MF – 1 - - - - MF – 1
Guardian
The MF – 1 - - - - MF – 1
Independent
Total MF – 2 - - - - MF – 2
EP - 1 EP - 1
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – LXXX

clause/Expansion of the Predicator - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
158
Tables LXXXI and LXXXII show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in
the editorials related to Benazir’s assassination in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The M-2 - M-2 - - T-35
Statesman M-4
The Hindu M-3 - M-1 - - T-30
M-4
Express M-4
Total M-9 - M-3 - - T-94
M-12
Table – LXXXI

The Daily M-7 - - - - T-32
Telegraph M-7
The M-12 - M-4 - M-1 T-55
Guardian M-17
The M-11 - - - - T-48
Independent M-11
Total M-30 - M-4 - M-1 T-135
M-35
Table – LXXXII
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Benazir’s assassination
159
Tables LXXXIII and LXXXIV show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and
‘Low value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the editorials related to Benazir’s
assassination in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The H-1 - H-2 - - H-3
Statesman L-1 L-1
The Hindu M-3 - H-1 - - H-1
M-3
The Indian H- 1 - - - - H- 1
Express M-2 M-2
L-1 L-1
Total H- 2 - H- 3 - - H- 5
M-5 M-0 M-5
L- 2 L- 0 L- 2
Table – LXXXIII

Telegraph L- 4 L- 4
The M-9 - M-4 - L-1 M-13
Guardian L- 3 L-4
The H- 1 - - - - H- 1
Independent M-6 M-6
L-4 L-4
Total H- 1 - - H- 1
M-18 M-4 L-1 M-22
L- 11 L- 12
Table – LXXXIV
Modality: Value - Benazir’s assassination
160
Tables LXXXV and LXXXVI quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective
editorials concerning Benazir’s assassination in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The SI - 2 - SI - 2 - - SI - 4
Statesman
The Hindu SI - 3 - SI - 1 - - SI - 4
The Indian SI – 3 - - - - SI –3
Express OI-1 OI-1
Total S1 –8 - SI - 3 - - S1-11
SE–0 SE–0
OI –1 OI –1
OE-0 OE-0
Table – LXXXV

Telegraph
The SI–11 - SI-4 - SI-1 SI–16
Guardian OI-1 OI-1
The SI – 8 - - - - SI – 8
OE-2 OE-2
Total SI –26 - SI – 4 - SI-1 SI-31
OI – 2 OI–2
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 2 OE-2
Table – LXXXVI
Modality: Orientation - Benazir’s assassination
161
Tables LXXXVII and LXXXVIII show the number of each of the four resources as
used for grounding modality in the editorials related to Benazir’s assassination in the

The MF - 2 MF - 2 MF - 4
Statesman
The Hindu MF – 3 MF - 1 MF - 4
The Indian MF – 3 MF – 3
Express MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 8 MF - 3 MF-11
MA-1 MA - 1
Table – LXXXVII

The Daily MF – 7 - - - - MF-7
Telegraph
The MF-11 - MF -4 - MF -1 MF -16
Guardian EP-1 EP-1
The MF-8 - - - - MF-8
Independent MA-1 MA-1
SC-2 SC-2
Total MF – 26 - MF-4 - MF-1 MF- 31
EP - 1 EP - 1
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC - 2 SC - 2
Table – LXXXVIII

clause/Expansion of the Predicator - Benazir’s assassination
162
Tables LXXXIX and XC show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials related to post-election violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British

The M-5 M-2 T-22
Statesman M-7
The Hindu M-2 M-3 T-30
M-5
The Indian M-1 M-2 T-25
Express M-3
Total M-8 M-7 T-77
M-15
Table – LXXXIX

The Daily M-2 - M-6 M-1 T-38
Telegraph M-9
The M-2 - M-1 - - T-25
Guardian M-3
The M-3 - - - - T-31
Independent M-3
Total M-7 M-7 M-1 T-94
M-15
Table –XC
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Post-election violence in Kenya
163
Tables XCI and XCII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the editorials related to post-election
violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The H-0 - H-2 - - H- 2
Statesman M-4 M-4
L-1 L- 1
The Hindu H-0 - H-1 - - H- 1
M-2 M-2 M-4
The Indian M-1 - M-2 - - M-3
Express
Total H- 0 - H- 3 - - H- 3
M-7 M-4 M-11
L- 1 L- 0 L- 1
Table – XCI

The Daily H- 0 H- 2 H-2
Telegraph M-2 M-4 M-6
L- 0 L-1 L- 1
The M-0 M-1 M-1
Guardian L- 2 L-2
The M-2 M-2
Independent L-1 L-1
M-4 M-5 M-9
L- 3 L-1 L- 4
Table – XCII
Modality: Value - Post-election violence in Kenya
164
Tables XCIII and XCIV quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
objective explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials concerning post-election violence in Kenya in the Indian and the British

The SI-5 SI-2 SI-7
Statesman
The Hindu SI - 2 S1-3 SI-5
The Indian OI-1 SI-2 SI-2

Express OI-1
Total SI –7 SI-7 SI-14
SE –0 SE–0
OI –1 OI- 1
OE-0 OE-0
Table –XCIII

The Daily SI–2 SI-6 SI-1 S1-9
Telegraph
The SI–2 SI–1 SI-3
Guardian
The SI -2 SI-2
Total SI –6 SI – 7 SI-1 SI-14
OI – 1 OI-1
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table –XCIV
Modality: Orientation - Post-election violence in Kenya
165
Tables XCV and XCVI show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in editorials related to post-election violence in Kenya in the Indian

The MF – 5 MF – 2 MF – 7
Statesman
The Hindu MF – 2 MF – 3 MF – 5
The Indian MA-1 MF – 2 MF – 2

Express MA-1
Total MF – 7 MF-7 MF -14
MA-1 EP - 0
MA - 1
SC - 0
Table –XCV

The Daily MF – 2 MF – 6 MF – 1 MF – 9
Telegraph
The MF-2 MF -1 MF – 3
Guardian
The MF-2 MF-2
Independent EP-1 EP-1
Total MF – 6 MF – 7 MF – 1 MF -14
EP - 1 EP - 1
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table –XCVI

of the Predicator - Post-election violence in Kenya
166
Tables XCVII and XCVIII show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament in the

The M-4 - M-1 - M-1 T-18
Statesman M-6
The Hindu M-7 - M-2 - M-1 T-28
M-10
Express M-2
Total M-13 - M-3 - M-2 T-68
M-18
Table –XCVII

The Daily M-5 - - - - T-29
Telegraph M-4
The M-9 - M-1 - M-1 T-32
Guardian M-11
The M-11 - M-4 - - T-44
Independent M-15
Total M-25 - M-5 - M-1 T-105
M-31
Table –XCVIII
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Robert Mugabe losing majority in

Zimbabwean Parliament
167
Tables XCIX and C show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low value’
modalised and modulated clauses in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing
respectively.

The H-2 - H-1 - H-3
Statesman M-0 M-0
L -2 L -1 L -3
The Hindu H-0 - H-1 - H-1 H-2
M-5 M-1 M-6
L -2 L -2
The Indian L-2 - - - - L-2
Express
Total H- 2 - H- 2 - H-1 H- 5
M-5 M-1 M-0 M-6
L- 6 L -1 L- 7
Table –XCIX

The Daily H- 0 - - - - H- 0
Telegraph M-4 M-4
L- 1 L- 1
The H- 0 - H-0 - H-1 H- 1
Guardian M-4 M-1 M-5
L- 5 L- 5
The H- 1 - H-3 - - H- 4
Independent M-2 M-1 M-3
L-8 L-8
Total H- 1 - H-3 - H- 1 H- 5
M-10 M-2 M-12
L- 14 L- 14
Table – C
Modality: Value - Robert Mugabe losing majority in

Zimbabwean Parliament
168
Tables CI and CII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit, objective
explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in editorials concerning
Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament in the Indian and the British

The SI-4 - SI-1 - SI-1 SI-6
Statesman
The Hindu SI - 5 - SI-2 - SI-1 SI-8
OI -2 OI-2
The Indian SI-2 - - - - SI-2
Express
Total SI –11 - SI-3 - SI-2 SI-16
OI – 2 OI -2
SE –0 SE -0
OE-0 OE-0
Table – CI

The SI–7 - SI-1 - SI-1 SI-9
Guardian OI-2 OI-2
The SI – 10 - SI- 4 - - SI-14
Total SI –21 - SI –5 - SI–1 SI-27
OI – 4 OI- 4
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – CII
Modality: Orientation - Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean

Parliament
169
Tables CIII and CIV show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The MF - 4 - MF - 1 - MF - 1 MF - 6
Statesman
The Hindu MF – 5 - MF - 2 - MF - 1 MF – 8
EP - 2 EP- 2
The Indian MF - 2 - - - - MF - 2
Express
Total MF –11 - MF – 3 - MF-2 MF- 16
EP - 2 EP - 2
MA - 0 MA - 0
SC -0 SC - 0
Table – CIII

The Daily MF – 4 - - - - MF – 4
Telegraph MA-1 MA-1
The MF -7 - MF 1 - MF -1 MF -9
Guardian EP-2 EP-2
The MF – 10 - MF – 4 - - MF -14
Independent MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 21 - MF – 5 - MF – 1 MF- 27
EP - 2 EP - 2
MA - 2 MA -2
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – CIV

of the Predicator - Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament
170
Tables CV and CVI show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials related to Barack Obama winning the US presidential election in the Indian

The M-3 - M-3 - M-1 T-39
Statesman M-7
The Hindu M-10 - M-2 - - T-54
M-12
The Indian - - M-1 - M-1 T-26
Express M-2
Total M-13 - M-6 - M-2 T-119
M-21
Table – CV

The Daily M-9 - M-6 - M-1 T-56
Telegraph M-16
The M-2 - M-1 - - T-39
Guardian M-3
The M-7 - M-4 - - T-41
Independent M-11
Total M-18 - M-11 - M-1 T-136
M-30
Table – CVI
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Barack Obama winning the US

presidential election
171
Tables CVII and CVIII show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in the editorials related to Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.
Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation( Total

(Probability) (Usuality) (Obligation) (Inclination) Ability)
The H-0 - H-2 - H-1 H-3
Statesman M-3 M-1 M-4
L -0 L -0 L -0
The Hindu H-0 - H-2 - - H-2
M-7 M-7
L -3 L -3
The Indian - - - H-1 H-1
Express M-1 M-1
Total H- 0 - H- 4 - H-2 H- 6
M-10 M-2 M-12
L- 3 L- 0 L- 3
Table – CVII
Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation( Total

(Probability) (Usuality) (Obligation) (Inclination) Ability)
The Daily H- 1 - H- 3 - H-1 H- 5
Telegraph M-8 M-3 M-11
L- 0 L- 0
The H- 1 - H- 0 - - H- 1
Guardian M-1 M-1 M-2
L- 0 L- 0 L- 0
The H-0 - H-4 - - H-4
Independent M-5 M-5
L-2 L-2
Total H- 2 - H- 7 - H-1 H-10
M-14 M-4 M-18
L- 2 L- 0 L- 2
Table – CVIII
Modality: Value - Barack Obama winning the US presidential election
172
Tables CIX and CX quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
objective explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials concerning Barack Obama winning the US presidential election in the Indian

The SI-3 - SI-3 - SI-1 SI-7
Statesman
The Hindu SI - 9 - SI-2 - - SI-11
OI -1 OI -1
The Indian - - SI-1 - SI-1 SI-2
Express
Total SI –12 - SI-6 - SI-2 SI-20
OI – 1 OI-1
SE –0 SE- 0
OE-0 OE-0
Table – CIX

The Daily SI–8 - SI – 6 - SI – 1 SI-15
Telegraph OI–1 OI-1
The SI–1 - SI – 1 - - SI –2
Guardian OI-1 OI-1
The SI – 6 - SI -4 - - SI-10
Total SI –15 - SI – 11 - SI – 1 SI-27
OI – 3 OI-3
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – CX
Modality: Orientation - Barack Obama winning the US presidential election
173
Tables CXI and CXII show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the editorials related to Barack Obama winning the US
presidential election in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The MF-3 - MF-3 - MF-1 MF-7
Statesman
The Hindu MF - 9 - MF-2 - - MF -
EP -1 11
EP -1
The Indian - - MF-1 - MF-1 MF-2
Express
Total MF – 12 - MF – 6 MF – 2 MF –
EP - 1 20
MA -0 EP - 1
SC -0 MA - 0
SC - 0
Table – CXI

The Daily MF–8 - MF – 6 - MF – 1 MF-15
Telegraph EP–1 EP-1
The MF–1 - MF – 1 - - MF – 2
Guardian MA-1 MA-1
The MF – 6 - MF -4 - - MF–10
Total MF – 15 - MF – 11 - MF – 1 MF-27
EP - 2 EP - 2
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – CXII

of the Predicator - Barack Obama winning the US presidential election
174
Tables CXIII and CXIV show the number of modalised and modulated clauses in the
editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the Indian and the British

The M-2 - - - M-3 T-42
Statesman M-5
The Hindu M-9 - M-7 - - T-52
M-16
The Indian M-6 - M-1 - - T-28
Express M-7
Total M-17 - M-8 - M-3 T-122
M-28
Table – CXIII

The Daily M-4 - M-2 - - T-32
Telegraph M-6
The M-5 - M-2 - - T-41
Guardian M-7
The M-11 - - - - T-41
Independent M-11
Total M-20 - M-4 - - T-114
M-24
Table – CXIV
Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
175
Tables CXV and CXVI show the number of ‘High value’, ‘Median value’ and ‘Low
value’ modalised and modulated clauses in editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai in the Indian and the British newspapers respectively.

The H-1 - - - H-2 H-3
Statesman M-1 M-0 M-1
L-1 L-1
The Hindu - H-1 - - H-1
M-6 M-6 M-12
L -3 L -3
The Indian - H-1 - - H-1
Express M-5 M-5
L-1 L-1
Total H- 1 - H- 2 H-2 H- 5
M-12 M-6 M-0 M-18
L- 4 L- 0 L-1 L- 5
Table – CXV

The Daily H- 0 H-2 - - H- 2
Telegraph M-1 M-1
L- 3 L- 3
The M-5 HI-1 H-I
Guardian M-1 M-6
The H- 1 - - - - H- 1
Independent M-9 M-9
L-1 L-1
Total H- 1 - H-3 - - H- 4
M-15 M-1 M-16
L- 4 L- 4
Table – CXVI
Modality: Value - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
176
Tables CXVII and CXVIII quote the number of subjective explicit , subjective implicit,
objective explicit and objective implicit modalised and modulated clauses in editorials
concerning 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively.

The SI-1 - - - SI-3 SI-4
Statesman OI-1 OI-1
The Hindu SI - 9 - SI-7 - - SI-16
The Indian SI-6 - SI-1 - - SI-7

Express
Total SI–16 - SI-8 - SI-3 SI-27
OI – 1 OI- 1
SE –0 SE- 0
OE-0 OE-0
Table – CXVII

The Daily SI–4 - SI-2 - - SI-6
Telegraph
The SI–3 SI-2 - - SI–5
Guardian OI-2 OI-2
The SI – 7 - - - - SI –7
Total SI –14 - SI – 4 - - SI-18
OI – 6 OI -6
SE- 0 SE- 0
OE - 0 OE-0
Table – CXVIII
Modality: Orientation - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
177
Tables CXIX and CXX show the number of each of the four resources as used for
grounding modality in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in the

The MF-1 - - - MF-3 MF-4
Statesman MA-1 MA-1
The Hindu MF - 9 - MF-7 - - MF-16
The Indian MF-6 - MF-1 - - MF-7

Express
Total MF – 16 - MF-8 - MF-3 MF -27
EP - 0 EP - 0
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC -0 SC - 0
Table – CXIX

The Daily MF – 4 - MF -2 - - MF -6
Telegraph
The MF-3 - MF -2 - - MF -5
Guardian EP-2 EP-2
The MF-7 - - - - MF-7
MA-1 MA-1
Total MF – 14 - MF -4 - - MF -18
EP - 5 EP - 5
MA - 1 MA - 1
SC - 0 SC - 0
Table – CXX

of the Predicator - 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai
178
3.3. Discussion
The first considerable feature is the quantity of authorial modal clauses in the news-
reports and editorials taken from the Indian and the British newspapers. Taken one by
one, in the news-reports concerning twin blasts in Iraq, there are seventy-four authorial
clauses in the three Indian newspapers. Out of these, only one is modal. Likewise, in the
British newspapers, there are eighty-four authorial clauses in the news-reports
concerning the same issue. Out of these, only three are modal. Second, in the news-
reports related to North Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, there are
sixty-four and seventy-eight authorial clauses in the Indian and the British newspapers
respectively. Out of these, only four clauses are modal in the former and three in the
latter. Third, in the news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension from the
Commonwealth, the number of authorial clauses in the Indian newspapers is fifty-one;
in the British newspapers, it is sixty-two. Out of these, there are only two modal clauses
in the former; and in the latter, this number is three. Fourth, in the news-reports related
to Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, the number of authorial
clauses in the Indian newspapers is sixty-one; in the British newspapers, it is one
hundred and thirty-seven. Out of these, there are three modal clauses in the former; and
in the latter, this number is eighteen. Fifth, in the news-reports related to Benazir’s
assassination, there are one hundred and ninety-one authorial clauses in the Indian and
two hundred and forty-eight authorial clauses in the British newspapers. In the former
the number of modal clauses is merely one and in the latter it is ten. Sixth, in the news-
reports concerning Post-election violence in Kenya, the number of authorial clauses in
the Indian newspapers is seventy-four; in the British newspapers, it is one hundred and
thirty-three. Out of these, there is merely one modal clause in the former; and in the
latter, this number is eight. Seventh, there are news-reports concerning Robert Mugabe
losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament. In this case, the Indian newspapers have
forty nine authorial clauses, out of which merely one clause is modal. Likewise, the
British newspapers have one hundred and eighteen authorial clauses, out of which
179
twenty are modal. Eighth, in the news-reports related to Nepal becoming a republic,
there are forty-two authorial clauses in the Indian and one hundred and twenty-two
authorial clauses in the British newspapers. In the former the number of modal clauses
is eight and in the latter it is fifteen. Ninth, there are news-reports concerning Barack
Obama winning the US presidential election. In this case, the Indian newspapers have
one hundred and fifty-eight authorial clauses, out of which four clauses are modal.
Likewise, the British newspapers have one hundred and eighty-four authorial clauses,
out of which nineteen are modal. And finally, in the news-reports related to 26/11
terror attack on Mumbai, there are one hundred and fifteen authorial clauses in the
Indian and ninety-nine authorial clauses in the British newspapers. In the former the
number of modal clauses is six and in the latter it is three. On the whole, in the Indian
newspapers there are eight hundred and seventy-nine authorial clauses in the news-
reports concerning these ten issues. Out of these, the number of modal clauses is thirty-
one. Likewise, in the British newspapers, the number of authorial clauses is twelve
hundred and sixty-five. Out of these, one hundred and two clauses are modal. In other
words, in the Indian newspapers, only 3.52% clauses are modalised; in the British
newspapers, though this percentage is almost double, but here too it does not go beyond
8.06%. This gives ground to the generalization that the news-reporters, in both the
Indian and the British newspapers, generally write unmodalised propositions, thus
presenting them as undisputed, factual statements bereft of uncertainty and elements
of doubt since modality, in contrast, gives “the illusion of a ‘person’ with a voice
and opinions.” (Fowler 1991: 64)
Another generalization that can be deduced from the analysis is that
generally, in the British news-reports the number of authorial modalised clauses is
more than their number in the Indian news-reports. Specifically speaking, out of the
ten issues, there are seven such issues in the case of which, the British news-reports
have more authorial modalised clauses than the Indian news-reports. For instance, in
the news-reports concerning twin blasts in Iraq, Pakistan’s suspension from the
180
Commonwealth, Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, Benazir’s
assassination, Post-election violence in Kenya, Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament and Barack Obama winning the US presidential election, the
British newspapers have 3.57%, 4.83%, 13.13%, 4.03%, 6.01%, 16.94% and 10.32%
authorial modalised clauses respectively; whereas the Indian newspapers have
1.35%, 3.92%, 4.91%, 0.52%, 1.35%, 2.04%, and 2.53% authorial modalised clauses
respectively. There are merely three such issues in the case of which the Indian
news-reports are ahead of the British news-reports so far as the number of authorial
modalised clauses is concerned. For instance, in the news-reports concerning North
Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, Nepal becoming a republic and 26/11
terror attack on Mumbai, the Indian newspapers have 6.25%, 19.04% and 5.21%
authorial modalised clauses respectively; whereas the British newspapers have 3.84%,
12.29% and 3.03% authorial modalised clauses respectively.
It is further found that there is variation in the number of authorial modalised
clauses, not only in the Indian and the British newspapers, but also within one set of
newspapers on the basis of the subject of news-report. For instance, in the news-reports
related to twin blasts in Iraq, Benazir’s assassination, Post-election violence in Kenya,
Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament and Barack Obama winning
the US presidential election, there are less than 3% authorial modalised clauses in the
Indian newspapers; while in the news-reports concerning Pakistan’s suspension from
the Commonwealth, this percentage is 3.92, in the news-reports concerning Vladimir
Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, it is 4.91, in the news-reports
concerning 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, it is 5.21, in the news-reports concerning
North Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, it is 6.25, and in the news-
reports concerning Nepal becoming a republic, it shoots up to 19.04. Similarly, in the
British newspapers, in the news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq, North Korea and
South Korea signing a pact for peace and 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai there are
less than 4% authorial modal clauses; in the news-reports concerning Benazir’s
181
assassination and Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth there are about 5%
authorial modal clauses; in the news-reports related to Post-election violence in
Kenya there are about 6% authorial modal clauses; in the news-reports related to
Barack Obama winning the US presidential election, the percentage of authorial modal
clauses is 10.32; in the news-reports concerning Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry
Medvedev as his successor and Nepal becoming a republic there are about 13%
authorial modal clauses; and finally, the news-reports reporting Robert Mugabe
losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament have 16.94% authorial modal clauses. Since
modality refers to the region of uncertainty between ‘yes’ and ‘no’, it can be said that
the Indian news-reporters are a little less certain in the news-reports concerning North
Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, Nepal becoming a republic and 26/11
terror attack on Mumbai as compared to the British news-reporters, and a bit more
certain in the news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq, Pakistan’s suspension from
the Commonwealth, Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor,
Benazir’s assassination, Post-election violence in Kenya, Robert Mugabe losing
majority in Zimbabwean Parliament and Barack Obama winning the US presidential
election in comparison to their British counterparts.
As news-reports are published in the newspapers with the core purpose of
spreading information among the masses, the commodity exchanged in this kind of
discourse is information. This determines the speech-roles for the reporter and the
reader. In news reporting, thus, the reporter adopts for himself the role of the
supplier of information and lets the reader take on the role of the receiver of
information. When language is used to exchange information, the clause takes on the
form of a proposition, in contrast to a proposal, which is the form for the exchange
of goods and services (Halliday and Mattheisson, 2004: 110). For our discussion,
the noteworthy thing is that when information is exchanged in the form of a
proposition, the modality, if any, relates to how valid the information is as in terms
of probability i.e. how likely it is to be true, or usuality i.e. how frequently it is true
182
(Geoff Thompson, 1996:67). In SFL, both of these are covered under the term
modalisation. And since in news reporting there is basically the exchange of
information in the form of propositions, the modality, if any, is mainly of the
modalisation type. The second variant of modality i.e. modulation is quite rare in the
language of news-reporting, and wherever it exists, it is seen basically in projected
clauses. Interestingly, these clauses do not function as proposals. Instead, they
function as propositions because when a clause is mediated through the reporter’s
voice by projection, it involves a third person and thus becomes discretionary. To
the reader, it then conveys information rather than goods and services (Halliday and
Mattheisson, 2004: 148). The analysis of the data for the present study reinforces
that reporter in the news-reports taken both from the Indian and the British
newspapers hardly abdicates his job of providing the reader with information and
starts instructing him or speaking his own inclinations or abilities. For instance, in
the Indian newspapers, 96.78% of the total authorial modal clauses are of the
modalisation type and merely 3.22% are of the modulation type. Interestingly, there
are news-reports related to as many as nine issues, where there is no instance of the
modulation variant of modality. It is found only in news-reports concerning one
issue i.e. Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor. Another
interesting finding is that out of the three variants of modulation – obligation,
inclination and ability, in the Indian newspapers, there exists only the first one i.e.
obligation. The other two i.e. inclination and ability are nowhere found in the data. The
pattern is almost repeated in the British news-reports as well. Here 97.05% of the total
authorial modal clauses are of the modalisation type and merely 2.94% are of the
modulation type. Further, there are news-reports related to as many as seven issues,
where there is no instance of the modulation variant of modality. It is found only in
news-reports concerning three issues i.e. Benazir’s assassination, Robert Mugabe
losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament and Nepal becoming a republic. And still
further, strictly in harmony with their Indian counterparts, the British news-reports have
183
only one variant of modulation i.e. obligation. The other two variants i.e. inclination
and ability are nowhere found in the data. Another interesting finding regarding the
variants of modality is that out of the two variants of modalisation, probability and
usuality, there is only the use of the probability variant and the usuality variant is
nowhere found in the news-reports selected from the Indian as well as the British
newspapers as data for the present study.
In terms of value, modality is classified into three degrees – high, median and
low. In the news-reports taken from the Indian newspapers, most of the authorial modal
clauses have median value of modality, followed by low value, and so far as high value
is concerned it is nowhere found. On the whole, out of the thirty-one authorial modal
clauses, twenty-five clauses have median value of modality and low value characterizes
only six authorial modal clauses. In other words, 80.64% of the total authorial modal
clauses have median value of modality and merely 19.36% clauses are of the low value.
Specifically speaking, there are news-reports related to as many as six issues viz. twin
blasts in Iraq, Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth, Vladimir Putin naming
Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, Post-election violence in Kenya, Robert Mugabe
losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament and Nepal becoming a republic, where all
the authorial modal clauses have median value of modality. Further, in the news-reports
concerning North Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace and Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election, 75% of the authorial modal clauses are
characterized by median value of modality whereas 25% authorial modal clauses have
low value of modality. Next, in the news-reports related to 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, the ratio of median and low value is 50:50. And finally, in the news-reports
concerning Benazir’s assassination, there is only one authorial modal clause and it is of
low value of modality. Besides, another interesting finding is that in the Indian news-
reports, though in the modalisation variant of modality, both median and low values are
available, but in the modulation variant, only median value is witnessed. In the news-
reports taken from the British newspapers, the overall trends are almost similar, though
184
there are minute variations as well. On the whole, out of the one hundred and two
authorial modal clauses in the British news-reports, seventy clauses have median value
of modality, thirty-two authorial modal clauses are characterized by low value of
modality and there is no authorial clause of high value of modality. In other words,
majority i.e. 68.62% authorial modal clauses are of median value of modality and the
rest 31.38% authorial modal clauses are of the low value. Specifically speaking, news-
reports related to twin blasts in Iraq and North Korea and South Korea signing a pact
for peace have authorial modal clauses only of median value. Further, in the news-
reports concerning Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth, 66.66% authorial
modal clauses are of the median value while the rest 33.33% authorial modal clauses
have low value of modality. Next, in the news-reports concerning Vladimir Putin
naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor and Barack Obama winning the US
presidential election, about 84% authorial modal clauses are characterized by median
value whereas about 16% authorial modal clauses have low value of modality. Going
ahead, in the news-reports related to Post-election violence in Kenya and Nepal
becoming a republic, about 74% authorial modal clauses are of median value and about
26% authorial modal clauses have low value of modality. Further, in the news-reports
related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, 55% authorial
modal clauses are of median value and the low value lags just behind it with its
presence in 45% authorial modal clauses. But there is the reversal of the situation in the
news-reports related to Benazir’s assassination and 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai. In
both the cases, the low value authorial modal clauses outnumber the median value
authorial modal clauses. In the former, the low value and median value authorial modal
clauses 80% and 20% respectively and in the latter they are 66.66% and 33.33%
respectively. And finally, just like the Indian news-reports, in the British news-reports
as well, in the modulation variant of modality, only the median value is available,
however, in the modalisation variant, both the median and low values are vigorously
available.
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Regarding orientation of modality, SFL recognizes fourfold classification –
subjective implicit, subjective explicit, objective implicit and objective explicit. One
feature common between the news-reports taken from the Indian and the British
newspapers is the absence of subjective explicit variant of modality. Further, the objective
explicit variant of modality is also absent in the British news-reports, and in the Indian
news-reports too, except in one news-report related to twin blasts in Iraq, there is no
instance of it anywhere in the data. Going ahead, in the Indian news-reports 48.38%
authorial modal clauses are objective implicit and the equal amount i.e. 48.38%
authorial modal clauses are subjective implicit, whereas in the British news-reports the
subjective implicit variant (67.64%) outnumbers the objective implicit variant (32.35%).
Thus, it can be deduced that the Indian news-reports are as much objective implicit as
they are subjective implicit, whereas the British news reports are more subjective
implicit and less objective implicit. Another considerable finding is that in both the
Indian and the British news-reports, the modulation variant of modality always has
subjective implicit orientation. Further, the subject of news-report brings variation in the
orientation of modality in both the Indian and the British news-reports. In the Indian
newspapers, for instance, in the news-reports related to Benazir’s assassination and
Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth, the modal elements are only objective
implicit, while in the news-reports related to Post-election violence in Kenya and Robert
Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, modal elements are only subjective
implicit. and there is no trace of objective implicit variant of modality. Next, there are
news-reports concerning as many as three issues viz. Nepal becoming a republic,
Barack Obama winning the US presidential election and 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, wherein subjective implicit and objective implicit variants are equal in
percentage i.e. each variant amounts to 50% of the total authorial modal clauses.
Further, in the news-reports related to Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his
successor, 66.66% authorial modal clauses are objective implicit and 33.33% authorial
modal clauses are subjective implicit. And finally, in the news-reports concerning
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North Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, the percentage of subjective
implicit and objective implicit authorial modal clauses is 75 and 25 respectively.
Likewise, in the British newspapers, in the news-reports related to North Korea and
South Korea signing a pact for peace, there is no instance of subjective implicit variant
of modality and all the three modal expressions are objective implicit, while in the
news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth, the case is just
the opposite, herein there is no instance of objective implicit variant of modality and all
the three modal expressions are subjective implicit. Next, in the news-reports related to
Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, the amount of objective
implicit and subjective implicit authorial modal clauses is equal. Further, in the news-
reports related to Post-election violence in Kenya, 62.5% authorial modal expressions
are subjective implicit while the remaining 37.5% are objective implicit. Furthermore, in
the news-reports related to Nepal becoming a republic and 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, 66.66% authorial modal expressions are subjective implicit while 33.33%
authorial modal expressions are objective implicit. Still further, in the news-reports
related to Barack Obama winning the US presidential election, 73.68% authorial modal
expressions are subjective implicit while 26.31% authorial modal expressions are
objective implicit. Going ahead, in the news-reports concerning Benazir’s assassination,
subjective implicit and objective implicit modal expressions amount to 70% and 30%
respectively. And then, in the news-reports related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament, 90% authorial modal expressions are subjective implicit while
merely 10% authorial modal expressions are objective implicit. And finally, in the
news-reports related to twin blasts in Iraq, there is the reversal of the general trend,
herein only 33.33% modal expressions are subjective implicit while the rest 66.66% are
objective implicit.
So far as resources for grammaticalising modality are concerned, they are
basically four – modal finite, modal adjunct, expansion of the predicator and
separate clause. The first finding is that in the modulation variant, in both the Indian
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and the British news reports, there is the use of only one resource in all the authorial
modal clauses and this is modal finite. Second, in the modalisation variant, though
modal finite emerges out as the most used resource in the news-reports taken both
from the Indian and the British newspapers, however, there is a noticeable variation
in the Indian and the British news reports regarding its quantity. Precisely speaking,
in the news-reports taken from the Indian newspapers, modal finite amounts to
45.16% of the total resources used for grounding modality, whereas in the news-
reports taken from the British newspapers, it amounts to 64.70% of the total
resources. Third, in both the categories of news-reports, expansion of the predicator
is the second most used resource, however, again there is a minute variation in the
two sets of news-reports regarding its quantity. The authors of the Indian news-
reports use it more than those of the British news-reports. In the Indian news-
reports, it is used in 38.70% authorial modalised clauses, while in the British news-
reports; it is used in 28.43% authorial modalised clauses. Fourth, modal adjunct
secures third position in terms of usage in both the Indian and the British news
reports. However, this similarity is again not without a dissimilarity. In the Indian
news-reports, it is used in 9.67% authorial modalised clauses, while in the British
news-reports, it is used in 3.92% authorial modalised clauses. Fifth, the fourth
resource for modality i.e. separate clause is nowhere used in the news-reports taken
from the British newspapers, and in the Indian news-reports too its use is only
nominal. Specifically speaking, there is merely one instance of it in a news-report
related to twin blasts in Iraq taken from The Hindu. And finally, the theme of news-
report brings variation in the use of the resources for modality in both the Indian and
the British news-reports. In the Indian newspapers, for instance, in the news-reports
related to Post-election violence in Kenya and Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament, all authorial modalised clauses use modal finite. Next, in the
news-reports related to Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth and Vladimir
Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor, all authorial modalised clauses use
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expansions of the predicator. Going ahead, in the news-reports related to twin blasts
in Iraq, there is the use of separate clause only. Next, in the news-reports related to
North Korea and South Korea signing a pact for peace, modal finite is used in 75%
authorial modalised clauses and in the remaining 25% there is the use of expansion
of the predicator. Further, in the news-reports concerning Benazir’s assassination,
there is the use of modal adjunct only. Furthermore, in the news-reports related to
Nepal becoming a republic, 50% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite, 37.5%
clauses use expansion of the predicator and 12.5% clauses use modal adjunct. Still
further, in the news-reports concerning Barack Obama winning the US presidential
election, modal finite figures in 50% authorial modalised clauses, modal adjunct in
25% clauses and expansion of the predicator in the remaining 25% authorial
modalised clauses. And finally, in the news-reports related to 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, 50% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite and the remaining 50%
use expansion of the predicator. Likewise, in the British newspapers, in the news-
reports related to twin blasts in Iraq, 33.33% authorial modalised clauses use modal
finite, 33.33% clauses use modal adjunct and again 33.33% clauses use expansion of
the predicator. Second, in the news-reports related to North Korea and South Korea
signing a pact for peace, in all the authorial modalised clauses there is the use of
expansions of the predicator only. Third, in the news-reports concerning Pakistan’s
suspension from the Commonwealth, all authorial modalised clauses use modal finite.
Fourth, in the news-reports related to Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his
successor, 50% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite, 44.44% clauses use
expansion of the predicator and merely 5.55% clauses use modal adjunct. Fifth, in
the news-reports concerning Benazir’s assassination, modal finite figures in 66.66%
authorial modalised clauses and expansion of the predicator in the remaining 33.33%
authorial modalised clauses. Sixth, in the news-reports related to Post-election violence
in Kenya, 62.5% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite and 37.5% clauses use
expansion of the predicator. Seventh, in the news-reports related to Robert Mugabe
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losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, 89.47% authorial modalised clauses use
modal finite and 10.53% clauses use expansion of the predicator. Eighth, in the
news-reports related to Nepal becoming a republic, modal finite is used in 64.28%
authorial modalised clauses and in the remaining 35.72% clauses there is the use of
expansion of the predicator. Ninth, in the news-reports concerning Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election, 73.68% authorial modalised clauses use modal
finite, 15.78% clauses use expansion of the predicator and 10.52% clauses use modal
adjunct. And finally, in the news-reports related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai,
in 66.66% authorial modalised clauses there is the use of modal finite and in the
remaining 33.33% there is the use of modal adjunct.
After the news-reports, there are findings in relation to the editorials taken
from the selected Indian and the British newspapers. First, the quantity of authorial
modal clauses in these editorials needs consideration. To begin with, in the editorials
concerning Benazir’s assassination, there are ninety-four authorial clauses in the three
Indian newspapers. Out of these, twelve are modal. Likewise, in the British newspapers,
there are one hundred and thirty-five authorial clauses in the editorials concerning the
same issue. Out of these, thirty-five are modal. Second, in the editorials concerning
Post-election violence in Kenya, the number of authorial clauses in the Indian
newspapers is seventy-seven; in the British newspapers, it is ninety-four. However, in
both the categories of newspapers, the number of authorial modal clauses is equal i.e.
fifteen. Third, in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean
Parliament, there are sixty-eight authorial clauses in the Indian newspapers, out of
which eighteen are modal. Similarly, in the British newspapers, out of one hundred and
five authorial clauses, thirty-one are modal. Fourth, in the editorials related to Barack
Obama winning the US presidential election, there are one hundred and nineteen
authorial clauses in the Indian and one hundred and thirty-six authorial clauses in the
British newspapers. In the former, the number of authorial modal clauses is twenty-one
and in the latter it is thirty. And finally, there are editorials concerning 26/11 terror
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attack on Mumbai. In this case, the Indian newspapers have one hundred and twenty-
two authorial clauses, out of which twenty-eight clauses are modal. Likewise, the
British newspapers have one hundred and fourteen authorial clauses, out of which
twenty-four are modal. Thus, there are four hundred and eighty authorial clauses in the
editorials concerning the above five themes in the Indian newspapers. Out of these, the
number of modal clauses is ninety-four. Likewise, in the editorials taken from the
British newspapers, the number of authorial clauses is five hundred and eighty-four. Out
of these, one hundred and thirty-five clauses are modal. This shows that in the Indian
newspapers 19.58% authorial clauses are modal, while in the British newspapers
23.40% of the authorial clauses have elements of modality. Compared to the percentage
of authorial modal clauses in the selected news-reports concerning the above stated ten
themes, this percentage is remarkably high. This points towards a significant generic
variation in relation to interpersonal meanings and their grammaticalisation, which will
be discussed in detail in chapter IV.
The next finding is that at the broader level, in the British editorials the amount
of authorial modal clauses is more than their amount in the editorials taken from the
Indian newspapers. It is found that out of the five themes, in case of the three, the
British editorials have more authorial modal clauses than the Indian editorials. For
instance, in the editorials concerning Benazir’s assassination, Robert Mugabe losing
majority in Zimbabwean Parliament and Barack Obama winning the US presidential
election, the British newspapers have 26.11%, 29.52% and 22.05% authorial modal
clauses respectively; whereas the Indian newspapers have 12.76%, 26.47% and
17.64% authorial modal clauses respectively. On the other hand, there are two such
themes i.e. Post-election violence in Kenya and 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, in the
case of which the Indian editorials have more authorial modal clauses than the
British editorials. In the editorials related to the first theme, the Indian newspapers
have 19.48% authorial modal clauses in comparison to the 15.95% authorial modal
clauses in the British editorials. Similarly, in the editorials related to the second
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theme, the Indian newspapers have 22.95% authorial modal clauses, while the
British newspapers have 21.05% authorial modal clauses. However, cumulatively, in
the editorials taken from the British newspapers 23.49% authorial clauses are
modalised; this percentage is a little low i.e. 19.58 in the editorials taken from the
Indian newspapers.
Another finding is that the theme of editorial brings variation in the amount
of authorial modal clauses in both the Indian and the British newspapers. In the
Indian newspapers, for instance, the editorials related to Benazir’s assassination have
12.76% authorial modal clauses. This figure goes slightly up in the editorials
concerning Barack Obama winning the US presidential election, where 17.64% clauses
have modal elements. Further, in the editorials related to Post-election violence in
Kenya, authorial modal clauses amount to 19.48% of the total authorial clauses.
Next, there are editorials concerning 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, here 22.95%
authorial clauses have elements of modality. The increase in the amount of authorial
modal clauses in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament is all the more noticeable, here these clauses are 26.47% of the
total authorial clauses. Similar are the trends in the British newspapers. For instance, in
the editorials related to Post-election violence in Kenya, there are 15.95% authorial
modal clauses; in the editorials concerning 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, this
percentage is 21.05; and in those related to Barack Obama winning the US
presidential election, Benazir’s assassination and Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament, it is 22.05, 26.11 and 29.52 respectively. Thus, it is seen that
the number of authorial modal clauses in the editorials related to different themes is
nowhere similar. In some cases, it is just a little less than the double of what it is in
other cases. For instance, in the Indian newspapers the editorials related to Benazir’s
assassination have 12.76% authorial modal clauses, while those concerning 26/11
terror attack on Mumbai have 22.95%..Likewise, in the British newspapers, in the
editorials related to Post-election violence in Kenya 15.95% authorial clauses have
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elements of modality, whereas in the editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing
majority in Zimbabwean Parliament authorial modal clauses amount to 29.52% of the
total authorial clauses.
It is further found that the authors of editorials in both the Indian and the
British newspapers are not only concerned with the business of disseminating
information, but also indulge in instructing people to do certain things and voice
their opinions regarding people’s abilities to do certain things. Thus, both the
variants of modality – modalisation and modulation – are available in both the Indian
and the British editorials. However, in both the categories of newspapers,
modalisation variant is dominant. For instance, in the editorials taken from the
Indian newspapers, out of the ninety-four authorial modal clauses, sixty are of the
modalisation type. Likewise, in the editorials taken from the British newspapers, out
of one hundred and thirty-five authorial modal clauses, one hundred are of the
modalisation type. Thus, in the Indian editorials, 63.82% of the authorial modal
clauses are of the modalisation type, while 36.17% are of the modulation type.
Likewise, in the British editorials 74.07% of the authorial modal clauses are of the
modalisation type, while 25.92% are of the modulation type. Though this pattern is
recurrent in almost all the editorials taken from both the Indian and the British
newspapers, yet there is a variation too in the amount of modalised and modulated
clauses in almost all the editorials, and the deciding factor in this regard is the theme
of editorial. For instance, in the Indian newspapers, in the editorials related to
Benazir’s assassination 75% of the authorial modal clauses are of the modalised type
while 25% are of the modulated type. Further, in the editorials concerning Post-
election violence in Kenya, there are 53.3% modalised and 46.7% modulated authorial
clauses. Next, in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean
Parliament, 72.2% authorial modal clauses are of the modalised type while 27.8% are
of the modulated type. Still further, in the editorials concerning Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election, there are 61.9% modalised and 38.1% modulated
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authorial clauses. And finally, there are editorials concerning 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, here the authorial modalised clauses amount to 60.7% and authorial
modulated ones stand at 39.28%. Likewise, in the British newspapers, the editorials
related to Benazir’s assassination have 85.7% authorial modalised clauses and 14.3%
authorial modulated clauses. Next, in the editorials concerning Post-election violence
in Kenya, 46.7% of the authorial modal clauses are of the modalised type while
53.3% are of the modulated type. Further, in the editorials related to Robert Mugabe
losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, there are 80.6% modalised and 19.4%
modulated authorial clauses. Still further, in the editorials concerning Barack Obama
winning the US presidential election, the authorial modalised clauses amount to 60.%
and authorial modulated ones remain at 40%. And finally, in the editorials concerning
26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, authorial modalised and modulated clauses are
83.3% and 16.7% respectively. Another finding that this analysis yields is that in the
editorials taken from the Indian newspapers the use of modalisation variant is less
than its use in the editorials taken from the British newspapers, while the Indian
editorials are ahead of the British ones in the use of modulation variant. Thus it can
be said that the authors in the Indian editorials are more instructive and opinionated
regarding people’s abilities to do certain things than those in the British editorials.
Still another finding is that out of the two variants of modalisation, probability and
usuality, there is no instance found of the usuality variant in the editorials taken both
from the Indian and the British newspapers. Next, out of the three variants of
modulation, obligation, inclination and ability, there are only two variants,
obligation and ability, available in the editorials taken from the Indian and the
British newspapers. The third variant i.e. inclination is nowhere found in the data.
And finally, the obligation variant is more recurrent that the ability variant in both
the Indian and the British editorials. For instance, in the Indian editorials, 28.72%
authorial modal clauses are of the obligation variant while merely 7.44% are of the
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ability variant. Similarly, in the British editorials, 23.13% authorial modal clauses
are of the obligation variant while merely 2.98% are of the ability variant.
As regards the value of modality, the findings are yet more suggestive of the
genre variations. First of all, all three values of modality, high , median and low, are
found in both the variants of modality i.e. modalisation and modulation in the editorials
taken from the Indian as well as the British newspapers. Second, in both the Indian and
the British editorials, the most used value of modality is median. For instance, in the
Indian editorials, out of ninety-four authorial modal clauses, fifty-two clauses are of
median value. Thus, authorial modal clauses with median value of modality amount to
55.31% of the total authorial modal clauses in the Indian editorials. Likewise, in the
British editorials, out of one hundred and thirty-four authorial modal clauses, seventy-
six clauses have median value, thus amounting to 56.71% of the total authorial modal
clauses. However, as regards the frequency of occurrence of the high and low value of
modality is concerned, the Indian and the British editorials vary. For instance, in the
Indian editorials, the high value is the second highest and the low value stands third if
frequency of occurrence is considered, whereas in the British editorials, the case is just
the opposite. Here the low value of modality comes second and the high value remains
third. Taken one by one, in the Indian editorials, out of the total ninety-four authorial
modal clauses, twenty-five clauses have high value of modality and seventeen clauses
are with the median value. Thus, in the Indian editorials, high value and low value
authorial modal clauses amount to 26.59% and 18.08% of the total authorial modal
clauses. On the other hand, in the British editorials, out of the total one hundred and
thirty-four authorial modal clauses, twenty clauses have high value of modality and
thirty-eight clauses are with median value. Thus, in the British editorials, high value and
low value authorial modal clauses amount to 14.92% and 28.35% of the total authorial
modal clauses. Third, in the editorials taken from both the categories of newspapers, the
variant of modality brings variation in the trends regarding the value of modality. For
instance, in the Indian editorials, in the modalisation variant of modality, the most used
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value is median, whereas in the modulation variant of modality it is the high value that
is the most used. Likewise, in the modalisation variant of modality, low value comes
second in terms of the frequency of occurrence and the high value remains third,
whereas in the modulation variant, it is the median value that stands second and the low
value third. Speaking in figures, in the editorials taken from the Indian newspapers,
there are sixty authorial modal clauses that are characterized by the modalisation
variant of modality. Out of these, thirty-nine clauses i.e. 65% have median value of
modality, fifteen clauses i.e. 25% have low value of modality and six clauses i.e. 10%
are with the high value of modality. Contrastingly, in the modulation variant of
modality, out of thirty-four authorial modal clauses, nineteen clauses i.e. 55.88% have
the high value of modality, thirteen clauses i.e. 38.23% have median value of modality
and merely two clauses i.e. 5.88% are with the low value of modality. Similarly, in the
British editorials, in the modalisation variant of modality, the most used value is
median, whereas in the modulation variant of modality it is the high value that is the
most used. Likewise, in the modalisation variant of modality, low value comes second
in terms of the frequency of occurrence and the high value remains third, whereas in the
modulation variant, it is the median value that stands second and the low value third. In
figures, in the editorials taken from the British newspapers, there are ninety authorial
modal clauses that are characterized by the modalisation variant of modality. Out of
these, sixty clauses i.e. 60.60% have median value of modality, thirty-six clauses i.e.
36.36% have low value of modality and three clauses i.e. 3.03% are with the high value
of modality. Contrastingly, in the modulation variant of modality, out of thirty-five
authorial modal clauses, seventeen clauses i.e. 48.57% have the high value of modality,
sixteen clauses i.e. 45.71% have median value of modality and merely two clauses i.e.
5.71% are with the low value of modality. Another finding regarding the value of
modality is that in the editorials taken both from the Indian and the British newspapers,
the theme of editorial determines the frequency of high, median and low values in both
the variants of modality. For instance, in the Indian newspapers, in the editorials related
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to Benazir’s assassination, authorial modalised clauses with high value of modality
amount to 22.22% of the total authorial modalised clauses, those with median value
amount to 55.55% and those with low value again amount to 22.22%. Likewise,
authorial modulated clauses with high value amount to 100% of the total authorial
modulated clauses, thus leaving no room for median and low values. Second, in the
editorials related to Post election violence in Kenya, in the modalisation variant, high
value is non-existent, median value amounts to 87.5% and low value is merely 12.5%.
Likewise, in the modulation variant, high value is 42.85%, median 57.14% and low
value is non-existent. Third, in the editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority
in Zimbabwean Parliament, in the modalisation variant, high value is 23.07%, median
value is 38.46% and low value is again 38.46%. Likewise, in the modulation variant,
high value is 60%, median 20% and low value again 20%. Fourth, in the editorials
related to Barack Obama winning the US presidential elections, there is no authorial
modalised clause with high value of modality, those with median value amount to
76.92% and those with low value amount to 23.08%. Likewise, authorial modulated
clauses with high value amount to 75%, those with median value are 25% and there is
no authorial modulated clause with low value. And finally, in the editorials related to
26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, in the modalisation variant, high value is merely
5.88%, median value is 70.58% and low value is 23.52%. Likewise, in the modulation
variant, high value is 36.36%, median 54.54% and low value is 9.09%. Next, there are
editorials from the British newspapers. Taken one by one, in the editorials related to
Benazir’s assassination, in the modalisation variant, median value is 60%, low value is
40% and high value is non-existent. Further, in the modulation variant, median value is
80%, low value is 20% and high value is non existent. Second, in the editorials related
to Post election violence in Kenya, in the modalisation variant, high value is non-
existent, median value amounts to 57.14% and low value is 42.85%. Likewise, in the
modulation variant, high value is 25%, median 62.5% and low value is merely 12.5%.
Third, in the editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean
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Parliament, in the modalisation variant, high value is merely 4%, median value is 36%
and low value is 60%. Likewise, in the modulation variant, high value is 66.66%,
median 33.33% and low value is non-existent. Fourth, in the editorials related to Barack
Obama winning the US presidential elections, in the modalisation variant, high value is
11.11%, median value is 77.77% and low value is again 11.11%. Likewise, in the
modulation variant, high value is 66.66%, median 33.33% and low value is non-
existent. And finally, in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, in the
modalisation variant, high value is merely 5%, median value is 75% and low value is
20%. Likewise, in the modulation variant, high value is 75%, median is again 25% and
low value is non-existent.
As regards the orientation of modality, the first finding is that the subjective
explicit variant of modality features neither in the modalisation nor in the modulation
variant in the editorials taken both from the Indian and the British newspapers. Second,
in the Indian editorials, objective explicit variant of modality is also unavailable in the
modalisation as well as in the modulation variants, and on the British side too, except
in one editorial related to Benazir’s assassination in The Independent, where there are
two such clauses in the modalisation variant, there is no instance of it anywhere in the
data. Third, in both the Indian and the British editorials, the modulation variant of
modality always has subjective implicit orientation. There is no instance found
anywhere in the data where modulations are characterized by any other orientation.
Fourth, in the editorials taken both from the Indian and the British newspapers, in the
modalisation variant, the majority of authorial modal clauses have subjective implicit
orientation. For instance, in the Indian editorials, 88.33% authorial modalised clauses
are subjective implicit and merely 11.66% authorial modalised clauses are objective
implicit. Likewise, in the British editorials, 82% authorial modalised clauses are
subjective implicit, 16% clause are objective implicit and merely 2% clauses are
objective explicit. And finally, the theme of editorial does not bring any major variation
in the orientation of modality in the modalisation variant as well in the editorials taken
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both from the Indian and the British newspapers. (Here it is to be noticed, though it has
already been stated above, that in the modulation variant, no other orientation is
available except the subjective implicit one in both the categories of editorials.). In the
Indian newspapers, for instance, in the editorials related to Benazir’s assassination
88.89% authorial modalised clauses are subjective implicit and 11.11% authorial
modalised clauses are objective implicit. Second, in the editorials concerning Post
election violence in Kenya 87.5% authorial modalised clauses are subjective implicit
and 12.5% authorial modalised clauses are objective implicit. Third, in the editorials
concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, .84.61%
authorial modalised clauses are subjective implicit and 15.38% authorial modalised
clauses are objective implicit. Fourth, in the editorials related to Barack Obama
winning the US presidential elections, 92.30% authorial modalised clauses are
subjective implicit and 7.69% authorial modalised clauses are objective implicit. Fifth,
in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, 88.23% authorial modalised
clauses are subjective implicit and 11.76% authorial modalised clauses are objective
implicit. Likewise, in the British newspapers, in the editorials related to Benazir’s
assassination, 86.66% authorial modalised clauses are subjective implicit, 6.66%
clauses objective implicit and the remaining 6.66% are objective explicit Second, in
the editorials concerning Post election violence in Kenya 85.71% authorial modalised
implicit. Third, in the editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament, .84% authorial modalised clauses are subjective implicit and
16% authorial modalised clauses are objective implicit. Fourth, in the editorials related
to Barack Obama winning the US presidential elections, 83.34% authorial modalised
implicit. Fifth, in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, 70% authorial
modalised clauses are subjective implicit and 30% authorial modalised clauses are
objective implicit.
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And finally, there are findings in relation to the use of the resources for
modality. First, out of the four recognized resources for grammaticalising modality in
the clause, modal finite emerges out as the first choice of the authors in the Indian as
well as the British editorials. In the modulation variant, all the authorial modal
clauses use modal finite in the editorials taken both from the Indian and the British
newspapers. In the modalisation variant, modal finite amounts to 88.33% of the total
resources used for grounding modality in the Indian editorials, and in the British
editorials its use is 82%. Second, expansion of the predicator comes forward as the
second most used resource both in the Indian and the British editorials. In the Indian
editorials, its use amounts to 6.66% of the total resources used in the modalisation
variant. In the British editorials, this figure is slightly higher i.e. 11% of the total
resources used in the modalisation variant. Third, in the use of modal adjunct, the
Indian and the British editorials show harmony. In both the categories of editorials, it is
used only in the modalisation variant and amounts to 5% of the total resources used in
this variant. Fourth, the use of separate clause as a resource for modality is found
neither in the modalisation nor in the modulation variant in the Indian editorials. In the
British editorials, it is nowhere found in the modulation variant and in the modalisation
variant too, its use is restricted to merely one editorial in The Independent where we
have two instances of separate clause as a resource for introducing modality. And last,
the theme of editorial does not bring much variation in the use of the resources for
modality in both the Indian and the British editorials. In the modulation variant, as is
already stated above, there is no resource other than modal finite in both the Indian and
the British editorials. So far as modalisation variant is concerned, the use of modal
finite is above 80% in all the editorials taken from the Indian newspapers and in all
but one editorial taken from the British newspapers. In the Indian newspapers, for
instance, in the editorials related to Benazir’s assassination 88.89% authorial modalised
clauses use modal finite and 11.11% authorial modalised clauses use modal adjunct.
Second, in the editorials concerning Post election violence in Kenya 87.5% authorial
200
modalised clauses use modal finite and 12.5% authorial modalised clauses use modal
adjunct. Third, in the editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in
Zimbabwean Parliament, .84.61% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite and
15.38% authorial modalised clauses use expansion of the predicator. Fourth, in the
editorials related to Barack Obama winning the US presidential elections, 92.30%
authorial modalised clauses use modal finite and 7.69% authorial modalised clauses use
expansion of the predicator. Fifth, in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on
Mumbai, 88.23% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite, 5.88% authorial
modalised clauses use modal adjunct and 5.88% authorial modalised clauses use
expansion of the predicator. Likewise, in the British newspapers, in the editorials
related to Benazir’s assassination, 86.66% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite,
3.33% clauses use modal adjunct, 3.33% clauses use expansion of the predicator and
the remaining 6.66% use separate clause. Second, in the editorials concerning Post
election violence in Kenya 85.71% authorial modalised clauses use modal finite and
14.28% authorial modalised clauses use expansion of the predicator. Third, in the
editorials concerning Robert Mugabe losing majority in Zimbabwean Parliament, .84%
authorial modalised clauses use modal finite, 8% clauses use modal adjunct and 8%
clauses use expansion of the predicator. Fourth, in the editorials related to Barack
Obama winning the US presidential elections, 83.34% authorial modalised clauses use
modal finite, 5.55% clauses use modal adjunct and 11.11% clauses use expansion of
the predicator. Fifth, in the editorials related to 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, 70%
authorial modalised clauses use modal finite, 5% clauses use modal adjunct and the
remaining 25% clauses use expansion of the predicator.
To sum up the discussion, it can be stated that the language of British
newspapers is more indeterminate and hedged than that of the Indian newspapers in
both the genres. It is further found that the language of news-reports in both the Indian
and the British newspapers is far less indeterminate and hedged in comparison to that of
editorials. Next, it comes out that the news-reports in both the Indian and the British
201
newspapers adhere to their primary job of dissemination of information and do not
generally instruct, whereas the editorials in both the categories of newspapers inform as
well as instruct. Among other points of agreement between the Indian and the British
newspapers are that in both of them majority of the authorial modal clauses are of
median value, have subjective implicit orientation and construe modality through the use
of modal finite. Besides, they do not make use of the usuality variant of modalisation
and inclination variant of modulation.
202

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CHAPTER III

CONSTRUING THE REGION OF UNCERTAINTY THROUGH

Another issue involved in the concept of modality is modal responsibility. Geoff

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Total M-3 T-84

Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Twin blasts in Iraq

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Value - Twin blasts in Iraq

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Orientation - Twin blasts in Iraq

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate clause/Expansion

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - North and South Koreas signing a

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

The Indian H-0 - - - - H-0

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

The H-0 - - - - H-0

Modality: Value - North and South Koreas signing a pact for

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate clause/Expansion

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Pakistan’s suspension from

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Value - Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Orientation - Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate clause/Expansion

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Value - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Orientation - Vladimir Putin naming Dmitry Medvedev as his

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Resources: Modal Finite/Modal Adjunct/Separate clause/Expansion

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modality: Modalisation/Modulation - Benazir’s Assassination

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total

Modalisation Modalisation Modulation Modulation Modulation Total