Past form of modals in non-past contexts: a semiotic analysis

Hashim, Siti Afifah and Govindasamy, Subramaniam (2015) Past form of modals in non-past contexts: a semiotic analysis. In: 3rd International Conference on Linguistics, Literature and Culture (ICLLIC 2014), 26-28th November 2014, Penang.

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Abstract

There has long been a misconception among second-language (L2) users that past forms (V+ed) only appear in past contexts indicating events that occur in the past. However, when authentic texts are analysed, one encounters a considerable use of past forms (V+ed) in non-past contexts. This study seeks to examine the occurrence of past forms in non-past contexts (which may eventually give different contextual messages) and to postulate an invariant meaning for this past form. Ten journalistic articles from The Economist were analysed. Modals were categorized according to the immediacy function they were performing. The study shows that past form in English does not only indicate past events but also conveys other contextual messages when it appears in non-past contexts. It was also discovered that there is only one invariant meaning for the past form used in non-past contexts.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Plenary Papers)
Additional Information:	4599/62336
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Modal; Past form; Non-Past Context; Contextual Messages; Invariant Meaning
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PE English
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) > English Language Division Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User:	Dr Siti Afifah Hashim
Date Deposited:	07 May 2019 11:40
Last Modified:	15 Jul 2019 11:19
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/62336

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