Understanding Epistemic Modality in Learner Writing: Insights from Italian Undergraduates

1. Epistemic modality in learner writing Siân Morgan Language centre University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Italy sianmorgan@katamail.com Louvain, September 2007

2. Why epistemic modality? Mitigators or hedges allow writers to: • avoid absolute statements • acknowledge the presence of alternative voices • express caution in anticipation of criticism Amplifiers or boosters allow writers to: • demonstrate confidence and commitment in a proposition • mark their involvement and solidarity with the reader

3. .. ‘ ..meaning is not synonymous with ‘content’ but dependent on all the components of a text. Both propositional and metadiscoursal elements occur together. …...each element expressing its own ‘content’: one concerned with the world, and the other with the text and its reception.’ (Hyland,2004, bold added)

4. This study • how Italian students hedge or boost their statements • Y2 undergraduates • 42 female, 8 male • B2/C1 (CEFR) • argumentative writing tasks • total number words (53,470)

5. Really 1not obligatory, they are really important. For 2 mon to find people who really like travelling and 3 et outside of school will really help you in your li 4 s experience, it doesn’t really concern only scho 5 on on these facts to be really effective; teachers 6 so work experience can really help you to grow 7 place, that’s why you’re really interested on it. • at the world of sport has really changed today an • during the meeting are really serious and that it • have turned out to be really appreciated by pe • ti-cultural society, it is really useful to develop a • ogies have become a really important part of e • mester. What students really need is to enjoy t • ising” cultures might be really dangerous. The ris • lescence, indeed, is a really essential moment • res. Their existence is really precious to us and • ery wide, and it would really be wrong to dismiss

6. In my opinion • 1“congestion charge”. In my opinion it is a right • 2 rom everyone, because, in my opinion, it’s a good • 3 as well. Therefore, in my opinion, a measure • 4 should do it in this way. In my opinion it’s not rig • 5 ly the young ones, and, in my opinion, most of t • 6 re have to pay 5 euros. In my opinion it would b • 7 travel experiences are -in my opinion- extremely • 8 nd plenty of sustainers. In my opinion, informal e • 9 day only to go to work. In my opinion it would • 10 th sides. Furthermore, in my opinion this kind • 11 orried about his wealth. In my opinion, otherwise • 12 nly school. Furthermore in my opinion school is • 13 worried about his wealth. In my opinion, otherwise • 14 this measure because, in my opinion, it isn’t ac • 15 ergarten education and, in my opinion, this is ve • 16 c ity-centre of Cagliari. In my opinion  if  there w • 17 tiative will be success. In my opinion it is nece • 18 nter via Trento Trieste. In my opinion the best • 19 must across the zone. In my opinion even the

7. Possible factors influencing use • general language level (even within this student population). • writing competence • lack of register control. • individual differences in communicative style • cultural differences in rhetorical style

8. Implications for teaching • Expand lexical resources • Attention to phraseology • Exposure to appropriate text models • CR activities and form-focused practice • Rewriting practice

9. Diolch yn Fawr! Siân Morgan Centro Linguistico d’Ateneo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia morgan@unimore.it