4.2.5　Negative conditional CMs

The proposition introduced by negative conditionals such as unless can be considered as an exception in the situation.In other words,negative conditional CMs indicate an exceptional circumstance by which the proposition expressed by the main clause will not be fulfilled.Table 4.14 lists the frequencies and occurrences of the negative conditional CMs.

Table 4.14　Occurrences and frequencies of negative conditional CMs

Seen from Table 4.14,the most frequently used negative comparative CMs are unless(2.6 per 100,000 words)and even if(2.8 per 100,000 words).It can be understood that proposition introduced by unless in Example(69)is an exception in the situations in the main clauses.

(69)Even for the Chinese,unless one has an adequate background in traditional Chinese culture,it is not easy to understand the real meaning of the term.General Xiong Guangkai,former deputy chief of staff of the PLA,wrote an article discussing how the inaccurate translation of TGYH had a negative impact on Chinese foreign Policy.(N,ANEs)

In conclusion,by using the CMCEs,the authors explicitly signal that they aim to propose some propositions which will deny or negate the previous ones,so as to persuade and align the readers.The authors construe their stance through the denial of expectation and the opposite arrangement of propositions.Martin & White(2005:66)argue that countering some action or event as contrary to expectation is one mechanism which can similarly connote or lag an attitude.By contrasting facts with what is to be expected,the authors will positively or negatively express their stance without resorting to any explicit evaluative expressions.