An Analysis of Modality in Emma Watson and Michael Kimmel’s Speech Texts.

This study is concerned with modality. This study used Palmer’s (1986)
theory to analyzed Modality and Halliday (2008) to analyze the meaning of
modality. Relating to the statements above, this study was proposed to answer two
articulated research problems, namely; (1) What are the types of modality found in
Emma Watson and Michael Kimmel’s Speech Texts? And (2) To what extent do
Emma Watson and Michael Kimmel’s Speech Texts show similarities and
differences, if any, in their use of types of modality? Those research problems were
related to the speech texts by Emma Watson and Michael Kimmel.

This study employs a descriptive qualitative design. The data were all of the
speech by Emma Watson and Michael Kimmel’s Speech Texts that contain
modality. In addition, content analysis is applied to obtain the data in which the
writer becomes the key instrument of the study. Interactive data analysis, then, is
conducted to analyze and explain the data.

This study shows the findings of the types of modality and the similarities
and differences in types of modality. In terms types of modality, 30 data of modality
were found. The data are classified into two types of modality: Epistemic modality
consists of 10 data; judgments (5 data) and modifications (5 data). Deontic
modality consists of 20 data; directives (3 data), modifications (4 data), subjectivity
(5 data), imperatives (3 data), commissives (2 data), and volitives (3 data).
Moreover, in terms of similarities and differences, the data are classified into two
terms similarities and differences. The writer found 11 data of similarities and
differences in types of modality: In terms of similarities in types of epistemic (3
data) and similarities in type of deontic (2 data). In terms of differences in epistemic
(2 data) and differences in deontic (4 data).

Keywords: Modality, Epistemic, and Deontic