Gender-Based Evidence of Modalisation and Modulation Strategies in Nineteenth-century Institution English Recipes

Abstract

This chapter reports on gender-based differences in the use of modalisation and modulation strategies in nineteenth-century English institution recipes. By examining recipes authored by men and women, the study explores how language reflects interpersonal stance and evaluative meaning through systemic-functional linguistics (SFL). Using corpus tools to extract data, the analysis categorises modal strategies as modalising or modulating and contrasts their frequencies by gender. Findings reveal that male authors engage both modalisation and modulation devices more frequently, especially through modal verbs, to convey obligation and certainty. Female authors, conversely, favour matrices and adverbials to express nuanced confidence, aligning with rapport-building communication. Statistical analyses demonstrate significant differences in the use of these linguistic strategies, underscoring gendered language patterns in technical discourse. This study aims to shed light on the relationship between gender, language, and social function in historical English technical texts, providing a closer look at how linguistic choices reflect underlying social roles in specialised genres.