Functions Of Modal Verbs In English Legislative Texts And Their Chinese Translation

Frequent use of modal verbs is a major feature of legislative texts, and the use ofthem is complex. However, the previous study has mainly focused on deontic modalverbs which have performative function. In view of this, the author selects UnitedNations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) and TheGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1947) as data for a case study of modalverbs in legislative texts. Based on Palmer’s classification of modality, the author triesto classify modal verbs in legislative texts into three types, namely deontic, epistemicand dynamic. By adopting computer and manual statistics, the author investigates theexpressions, the locations and the frequencies of each type of modal verbs and thendiscusses the function of each type of modal verbs in the light of speech act theory.Based on the above research, the author further discusses the translation of the mainmodal verbs in each type in legislative texts.The result of the research shows that there are not only deontic modal verbs butalso a large number of epistemic and dynamic modal verbs in the chosen data.Deontic modal verbs appear with the highest frequency in legislative texts followedby epistemic modal verbs, while dynamic modal verbs have the lowest frequency.With the legislative illocutionary forces of right, permission, obligation andprohibition, deontic modal verbs mainly appear in the main clause. The translation ofthem should embody their special meanings in legislative texts. On the other side,epistemic and dynamic modal verbs mostly appear in the subordinate clause, whichprovide certain conditions, restrictions or other supplementary information for theperformance of speech acts in the main clause. The meanings of them are consistentwith those in general English. Consequently, the translation of modal verbs inlegislative texts must be based on their classification and functions. Only in this way,they can be translated accurately and the intention of the original legislative texts canbe conveyed correctly. Research on the functions and translation of modal verbs in legislative textsbased on their classification can promote overall grasp and better understanding ofthem. The author hopes this thesis will provide certain reference for the subsequentresearchers, and lay a foundation for the future study on modal verbs in legislativetexts.