(276）We saw this gap where the kind of non-fiction we were interested in wasn’t being published that much, the kinds of comics we liked weren’t really out there, so we just thought we’d do it ourselves.
(277）It was this medium that was evolving at such a rapid pace, with such a demand for it, that you could just slip these things in.
In Example (276), just denotes the time accompanying the attitude revealed by the MV would.In Example (277), just is emphatic, equivalent to “really”, “only” or “simply”, intensifying the attitude expressed by the MV could.It is postulated that just is used as a politeness strategy, for it attends to the hearer’s face needs.When used to mark excess or extremes, just can indicate positive politeness (i.e.solidarity); however, when used for indirect speech acts, just may show negative politeness (i.e.deference or hierarchy).
Examples (276）and (277）are from the interviews between reporters and common citizens, and the addressers are common citizens.Obviously, the MSA just plays the discourse function of positive politeness (solidarity）through negotiations.
It is found that the generic features of JI have great impacts on the use of such patterns: should just, could just, may just, and would just.
6.9.3 AW
In AW, such MSAs as maybe, always and easily are common.The corpora findings show the occurrences of these MSAs in AW:
A.maybe: 60
B.always: 50
C.easily: 46
In terms of discourse functions, maybe and always are modal whereas easily is evaluative.Take easily for example.This MSA expresses reactions in terms of appreciation of the appraisal system.In AW, the reader is imagined.Thus, it could be said that in AW the reader’s reaction, composition and valuation involved in the system of appreciation are designed and even conducted by the writer.It is believed that such a generic feature has great impacts on the use of pattern-like MSA easily.Consider the following:
(278）The most respected financial journalists in the most reputable newspapers can easily find themselves, or their papers, liable for the consequence owing to an incorrect forecast.
(279）Quite small pulse distortions over a serial link can easily produce such errors in a decoder, with the complexity of the jitter spectrum reflecting “intermodulation” within the complex time-varying pattern of the serial data.
In Example (278), the MSA easily makes the judgment conveyed by the MV can a personal responsibility.In Example (279), the same situation occurs.Examples (278）and (279）are from social sciences and natural sciences respectively in AW.
Horton-Salway (2001: 159-160）mentions the concept of personal accountability as a discursive practice.This term refers to how people accomplish the actions designated in discourse in terms of agency.Generally speaking, writers in AW accomplish their own roles; however, at times they play others’ roles (including those of readers and other writers and even the academic community）in addition to their own.Personal accountability is conducive to the understanding of how such pattern-like MSAs as easily work in AW.
There are such pattern-like usages of the MSA easily in AW: can easily, could easily, may easily, might easily, will easily, would easily, and must easily.There are no such occurrences as *shall easily and *should easily.The reason is inferred to be that shall and should convey more responsibilities than judgment in AW, and hence the evaluative use of the MSA easily would make the judgment concerned more tyrannical than democratic.The underlying principles of perspectivity and intersubjectivity work in the evaluative use of MSAs in AW; they reflect the ideology of deference in this genre.
6.9.4 LR
In LR, such MSAs as therefore, hereinafter and on a de facto basis are common.The corpora findings show the occurrences of these MSAs in LR:
A.therefore: 44
B.hereinafter: 40
C.on a de facto basis: 37
In terms of discourse functions, therefore and hereinafter are comparative whereas on a de facto basis is evaluative.Take therefore for example.This MSA expresses inference in terms of judgment of the appraisal system.Aitchison (1987）mentions the concept of mental lexicon, i.e.the lexicon in the human mind.While mental lexicon is a term used in the analysis of language acquisition for the information about the morphological, syntactic and semantic aspects of words, it is assumed that it has much to do with the MSAs that position attitudes by the generic backgrounds of LR.
Wang (2002）mentions the concept of free direct projection, arguing that it can contribute to engagement of the writers’ or speakers’ attitude.The free direct projection involves the projection of both the addresser’s and addressee’s views.It is postulated that the pre-arranged sense of attitude that an MSA has is stored in human minds through social interactions, resulting in the use of pattern-like MSAs.The MSA therefore is such an example.Consider the following:
(280）Whereas a new legal instrument should therefore be created in the form of a Regulation to permit effective control of all concentrations from the point of view of their effect…
(281）…whereas Community law must therefore include provisions governing those concentrations which may significantly impede effective competition in the common market or in a substantial part of it…
In Example (280), the MSA therefore makes the liabilities conveyed by the MV should more authoritative.In Example (281), the MSA therefore emphasizes the modal force of the MV must likewise.In both situations the MSA therefore projects the lawmakers’ views and puts the lawmakers in a position superior to that of the ordinary people.It is assumed that the ordinary people are used to this usage of MSA in the genre of LR.
