John Benjamins Publishing Company
Chapter 5. The cognitive and linguistic reasoning process of the speaker’s choice of modal expressions
Abstract
The inability to use modality appropriately observed in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is generally viewed as pragmatic impairment. This current study explores the divergent modal usage of ASD individuals, viewing it as a pragmatic impairment to be examined from neurological, cognitive, and linguistic perspectives. Based on statistical data derived from observations of how ASD persons use modal expressions while speaking, this paper clarifies the nature of their pragmatic impairment and proposes a new model for research. Although Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) did not explore the cognitive side of language use, the current study supports the view that pragmatic competency is primarily a neurocognitive and secondarily a linguistic function. This is evidenced by the empirical studies of lexicogrammatical choices made by individuals with cognitive disability such as ASD, as the current study shows. The central issue is that seeing pragmatic impairment from the neurocognitive perspective tells us how various factors (in addition to language) are integrated when normal people engage in conversational exchange in interpersonal situations.
Abstract
The inability to use modality appropriately observed in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is generally viewed as pragmatic impairment. This current study explores the divergent modal usage of ASD individuals, viewing it as a pragmatic impairment to be examined from neurological, cognitive, and linguistic perspectives. Based on statistical data derived from observations of how ASD persons use modal expressions while speaking, this paper clarifies the nature of their pragmatic impairment and proposes a new model for research. Although Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) did not explore the cognitive side of language use, the current study supports the view that pragmatic competency is primarily a neurocognitive and secondarily a linguistic function. This is evidenced by the empirical studies of lexicogrammatical choices made by individuals with cognitive disability such as ASD, as the current study shows. The central issue is that seeing pragmatic impairment from the neurocognitive perspective tells us how various factors (in addition to language) are integrated when normal people engage in conversational exchange in interpersonal situations.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. The system of modulation in Japanese 7
- Chapter 3. Grammatical metaphor of Transitivity, Mood and Modality in Japanese 51
- Chapter 4. A contrastive study of the English and Japanese modality systems 101
- Chapter 5. The cognitive and linguistic reasoning process of the speaker’s choice of modal expressions 133
- Index 177
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. The system of modulation in Japanese 7
- Chapter 3. Grammatical metaphor of Transitivity, Mood and Modality in Japanese 51
- Chapter 4. A contrastive study of the English and Japanese modality systems 101
- Chapter 5. The cognitive and linguistic reasoning process of the speaker’s choice of modal expressions 133
- Index 177
