Capítulo 3. Métodos multicriterios neutrosóficos para la localización de un parque eólico. 54
3.2. Métodos multicriterio para la toma de decisiones
3.2.1. Método AHP
In this section, the focus of analysis will be on the recorded choices the amateur writers made to express modalization in essays.
Figure 4.2 shows that the amateur writers apparently take different decisions regarding how much commitment they wish to attribute to their expressions of modalization. It can be
seen that their assertions are generally stronger than those in expert essays, with half all of instances recorded as median value.
Figure 4.2 Values of modalization in amateur essays
Table 4.4 (below) shows a further differentiation between the types of writers, this time with the expression of responsibility in modalization. The results suggest that, whereas expert writers prefer to express explicit orientations, the amateur writers prefer implicit. Likewise, the expert writers prefer to express objectivity in their writing as opposed to subjectivity which is has a stronger presence in amateur writers’ expressions of modalization.
Table 4.4 Frequency of orientations of modalization in amateur essays
Orientation subjective explicit subjective implicit objective implicit objective explicit Total N 29 68 22 4 123 (%) (23.58%) (55.28%) (17.89%) (3.25%) (100%)
High levels of subjectivity combined with median and high values show that the amateur writers are producing highly personalised writing with strong assertions.
The modal matrix, presented in Table 4.5(a), shows that results obtained when values (commitment) and orientations (responsibility) intersect. Using the colour coding system, as discussed in section 3.6.1.8 to provide a visual comparison of the results between the types of writers, reveal that four value-orientation pairs are dominant in their presence:
low value subjective implicit (N=38, 30.89%) median value subjective implicit (N=27, 21.95%)
Low
N=43(34.96%)
Median
N=62(50.41%)
High
N=10(14.63%)
median value subjective explicit (N=23, 18.70%) high value objective implicit (N=10, 8.13%)
When compared with the expert writers and colour-coded for over- and under-use, the results show that the amateur writers over-use these value-orientation pairs by a degree greater than 5%.
Table 4.5(a) Instances of modalization in amateur essays according to orientation and value, and colour-coded for over- and under-use
AMATEUR ESSAYS
INSTANCES OF MODALIZATION TOTAL
LOW MEDIAN HIGH (Orientations)
N % N % N % N % Subjective Explicit 3 2.44% 23 18.70% 3 2.44% 29 23.58% Subjective Implicit 38 30.89% 27 21.95% 3 2.44% 68 55.28% Objective Implicit 2 1.63% 10 8.13% 10 8.13% 22 17.89% Objective Explicit 0 0.00% 2 1.63% 2 1.63% 4 3.25% TOTAL (Values) N, % 49 36.57% 66 49.52% 19 14.18% 123 100.00%
KEY: Over-use 1-5% difference No difference (1% tolerance) Under-use 1-5% difference
>5% difference >5% difference
At the other extreme, the colour-coding identifies that under-use (>5%) was recorded in two of the four value-orientation pairs most frequently used to express modalization in the expert essays: median value objective explicit and low value objective explicit. The remaining pairs exhibit over- and under-use within the 1-5% range, suggesting that, for those orientations, there is some alignment with the expert writers. The cline of over- and under-use is summarised in Table 4.5(b), showing that in essay writing, the amateur writers have a tendency to over-use subjective orientations.
Table 4.5(b) Summary of over- and under-use of modalization in amateur essays
Over-use No difference Under-use
>5% 1-5% Within 1% tolerance 1-5% >5%
Low Subjective Implicit Med Objective Implicit N.A. High Objective Implicit Med Objective Explicit Med Subjective Implicit High Subjective Explicit Low Objective Explicit Med Subjective Explicit
High Objective Implicit
Low Subjective Explicit High Subjective Implicit
The examples presented below, show how the over-used value-orientation pairs are represented within the amateur essays.
The most frequently used value orientation pair, the low subjective implicit orientation is used with the low value modal verb may (22) to express possibility.
(22) This may result in a lack of sleep and the affect their health. [A-ES(L)06-012]
Although may is a perfectly acceptable modal verb to use in this context, the results are conspicuous by the lack of variation with other low value modal verbs such as might and could, both of which occur when expressing modalization in expert essays.
This limited variability in modal verb choice is also very marked within examples of median subjective implicit orientation, which is used exclusively by the modal verb will to express predictions and probability (23).
(23) Their friends and their lovers will leave them if they have no more money. [A- ES(L)02-009]
As with the expert writers, the use of the conditional subordinator if within hypotactic clauses is apparent. However, there is less complexity in the structures used, sentence length is shorter and assertions are more direct. The past-present relationship between would and will exhibited in expert essays to report and paraphrase external sources is not present in the amateur texts. Therefore, despite the expert writers using lexicogrammatical choices to orient the reader away from the subjectivity expressed within the subjective implicit orientation, guiding the reader towards apparent objectivity, the amateur writers are seen not to be aware of this technique.
The high rates of frequency of use recorded against the median value subjective explicit orientation appear to be caused by the tendency of the amateur writers to use highly personalised language. Examples (24), (25) and (26) show that this is achieved through the use of first person personal pronouns together with opinion verbs (such as agree, believe, think), opinion adjectives (sure, important, interesting), and the use of modalized opinion adjuncts (in my opinion, in my point of view).
(24) Therefore I agree with the connection between health and happiness. [A- ES(L)02-020]
(25) I am quite sure that this problem could not be solved in the nearly future. [A- ES(S)03-038]
(26) In my opinion, I believe health, wealth and happiness are connected. [A- ES(L)05-004]
These highly personalised forms function to put the writers at the centre of the claims they are making, projecting an air of certainty in their claims, and thus closing down alternative viewpoints. This is especially so in (25), where the use of the adverbial quite intensifies the already high value proposition I am sure that. The fact that personalisation is so widespread in modalization in the amateur essays, it suggests that the writers believe that it is appropriate and the expected thing to do.
The use of high value propositions continues in the objective implicit orientation particularly when used to express meanings of usuality. This is achieved by the use of the high value modal adjunct always (27), together with one instance of high value negative modal adjunct never (128).
(27) They always dream and worry about their life and makes them become unhappy people. [A-ES(L)04-012]
(28) They never walk out in rage. [A-ES(S)07-012]
These examples contribute to the final assessment of the expression of modalization in amateur writing within the genre of essays that show that the learners prefer to use orientations that promote high levels of subjectivity and with higher value commitment to their assertions.