| Acknowledgements | 第5-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-7页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-11页 |
| List of Figures and Tables | 第11-12页 |
| Chapter1 Introduction | 第12-16页 |
| 1.1 Background of the study | 第12-13页 |
| 1.2 Objective of the study | 第13-14页 |
| 1.3 Research methodology and data collection | 第14-15页 |
| 1.4 Structure of the paper | 第15-16页 |
| Chapter2 Literature Review | 第16-36页 |
| 2.1 Previous studies on modality abroad | 第16-28页 |
| 2.1.1 Halliday’s theory from SF Grammar approach | 第16-22页 |
| 2.1.2 Palmer's theory from semantic approach | 第22-24页 |
| 2.1.3 Sweetser's theory from cognitive approach | 第24-25页 |
| 2.1.4 Previous studies on modality in legislative discourse abroad | 第25页 |
| 2.1.5 Adoption of Halliday’s classification as framework | 第25-28页 |
| 2.2 Previous studies on modality at home | 第28-36页 |
| 2.2.1 History of Chinese modal studies | 第28-30页 |
| 2.2.2 Scope of Chinese modal studies | 第30-32页 |
| 2.2.3 Previous studies on modality in Chinese legislative discourse | 第32-33页 |
| 2.2.4 Classification of Chinese modal verbs | 第33-36页 |
| Chapter3 Methodology and Data Collection | 第36-40页 |
| 3.1 Data source and collection | 第36-37页 |
| 3.2 Research instruments | 第37-40页 |
| 3.2.1 Word Software for searching modals | 第37-38页 |
| 3.2.2 SPSS software | 第38-39页 |
| 3.2.3 Processing procedures | 第39-40页 |
| Chapter4 Data Analysis and Discussion | 第40-64页 |
| 4.1 Comparison of modal verbs according to types | 第40-56页 |
| 4.1.1 Results of comparing modal verbs according to modalization | 第40-42页 |
| 4.1.2 Results of comparing modal verbs according to modulation | 第42-54页 |
| 4.1.3 Results of comparing modal verbs according to marginal modals | 第54-56页 |
| 4.2 Comparison of modal verbs according to values | 第56-64页 |
| 4.2.1 Characteristics of modal verbs in Chinese Criminal Law | 第57-59页 |
| 4.2.2 Characteristics of modal verbs in English version | 第59-61页 |
| 4.2.3 Results of comparing modality values in two corpora | 第61-64页 |
| Chapter5 Conclusion | 第64-68页 |
| 5.1 Major findings of the study | 第64-66页 |
| 5.2 Significance of the study | 第66页 |
| 5.3 Limitations and suggestions of the study | 第66-68页 |
| References | 第68-73页 |
