The Use of Modal Verbs as a Reflection of Cultural Values.

Hinkel, Eli

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ508494

Record Type: Journal

Publication Date: 1995

Pages: N/A

Abstractor: N/A

ISBN: N/A

ISSN: ISSN-0039-8322

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The Use of Modal Verbs as a Reflection of Cultural Values.

Hinkel, Eli

TESOL Quarterly, v29 n2 p325-43 Sum 1995

A total of 455 essays written by Asian learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) were compared to 280 essays on similar topics written by native speakers of American English. Results found that the usage of the root modals "must,""have to,""should,""ought to," and "need to" appears to be culture specific and content specific. (contains 57 references) (MDM)

Descriptors: College Students, Comparative Analysis, Cultural Influences, English (Second Language), Essays, Higher Education, Language Usage, Sociolinguistics, Verbs

Publication Type: Reports - Research; Journal Articles

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

Sponsor: N/A

Authoring Institution: N/A

Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A