Hypothetic modal operators as the means of influence in English newspaper-publicist discourse

The paper focuses on the study of hypothetic modal operators in English media discourse, newspaper and publicist discourse in particular. The research is based on cognitive and discourse analysis approach, language interpretation theory and pragmatic approach. The above-mentioned approaches suggest that hypothetic modal operators such as modal words and modal verbs facilitate certain influence on knowledge formation as well as public opinion construction regarding to events describing in mass media. The researchers elucidate that influence is considered as a certain impact that media impose on public in terms of their perception and comprehension the information media broadcast. The influence is specified to be open and veiled. In this regard hypothetical modal operators in English speaking discourse can be one of the techniques of veiled influence. As a result, the authors arrive at the conclusion that hypothetic modal operators: 1) are widely used in English newspaper and publicist discourse; 2) implement different functions, such as: a) the speaker’s/writer’s attitude expression towards the information given; b) veiling of false information and presenting it as the true one; c) message down-toning and the elimination of potential conflict interpretation; 3) set the influence on the formation of public opinion, attitude, evaluation and public conscience in general. Moreover, the functions implemented by hypothetic modal operators in newspapers comply with pragmatic task that implies not only to inform but also to convince the audience of the information truthfulness.