Studies in modality comprise a complex canon of functional, formal, sociological and diachronic analyses of language. The current understanding of how English language speakers use modality is unclear; while some research argues that core modal auxiliaries are in decline, they are reported as increasing elsewhere. A lack of contemporary and representative spoken language data has rendered it difficult to reconcile such differing perspectives. To address this issue, this article presents a diachronic study of modality using the Spoken BNC2014 and the spoken component of the BNC1994. We investigate the frequency of core modal auxiliaries, semi-modals, and lexical modality-indicating devices (MIDs), as well as the modal functions of the core modal auxiliaries, in informal spoken British English, between the 1990s and 2010s. The results of the analysis are manifold. We find that core modal auxiliaries appear to be in decline, while semi-modals and lexical MIDs appear relatively stable. However, on a form-by-form basis, there is significant evidence of both increases and decreases in the use of individual expressions within each modal set. As a result, this study problematises form-based studies of change, and illustrates the value and coherence that functional analyses of modality can afford future work.

中文翻译：

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最近非正式口语英式英语语态的变化：1990 年代至 2010 年代

情态研究包括对语言的功能、形式、社会学和历时分析的复杂规范。目前对说英语的人如何使用情态的理解尚不清楚；虽然一些研究认为核心模式助剂正在下降，但据报道它们在其他地方有所增加。由于缺乏当代和具有代表性的口语数据，因此很难调和这些不同的观点。为了解决这个问题，本文介绍了使用口语 BNC2014 和 BNC1994 的口语成分对模态的历时研究。我们调查了 1990 年代至 2010 年代非正式英语口语中核心情态辅助语、半情态语和词汇情态指示装置 (MID) 的频率，以及核心情态辅助语的情态功能。分析的结果是多方面的。我们发现核心模态辅助似乎在下降，而半模态和词汇 MID 似乎相对稳定。然而，在逐个形式的基础上，有显着的证据表明每个模态集中单个表达式的使用都有增加和减少。因此，本研究对基于形式的变化研究提出了问题，并说明了模态功能分析可以为未来工作提供的价值和连贯性。