TEACHING MEANS OF EPISTEMIC MODALITY AS A WAY TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL QUALITIES OF A PERSONALITY

The article looks upon the issues of teaching the means of epistemic modality, which are understood to be the basis of successful communication and a way to enhance social adaptation and maturation of a personality. The hypothesis behind this research is that there is a number of reasons why the means of epistemic modality are of low frequency in students’ verbal expressions. The author investigates different classifications of epistemic markers from the linguistic and pragmatic points of view. These classifications formed the basis for developing a pattern that can be used by language teachers for preparing lessons. The article gives an overview of linguistic, pragmatic and extralinguistic factors that may influence a teacher’s decision about what speech items and what tasks to include into a lesson plan. A conclusion is made that the means of epistemic modality may be used at any language proficiency level. The author also conducts a survey among students of non-linguistic specialties to verify students’ low use of language items that express such speech functions as probability and certainty. The survey also indicates that students’ range of synonyms for epistemic markers is insufficient. The reasons why the use of epistemic markers is low with students include inadequate vocabulary stock, existential settings of Russian language educational discourse and social realia of modern higher school. Considering the potential reactivity of any utterance the author suggests some teaching methodology for memorizing and using epistemic markers in speech by students. A conclusion is made about the need to reconsider foreign language syllabi anthropocentrically with a focus on expressed personality meanings and critical conception of the world around. Verbal verification of different facts and issues on the basis of personal opinion is a step forward to raising socially mature and communicatively active specialists.

epistemic marker, modus, proposition, pragmatic functions, speech items, truth, evaluation, probability, frequency of verbal expression, survey, educational discourse, personal socialization

Shirokikh A. Yu. Teaching means of epistemic modality as a way to enhance development of social qualities of a personality. Biznes. Obrazovanie. Pravo = Business. Education. Law. 2024;1(66):399—406. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2024.66.899.