A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics David Crystal

308 mixing
mixing (n.)
M-level (n.)
see code
see harmonic phonology
MLU
see mean length of utterance
modal (adj.) (1) A term used in phonetics to characterize the neutral or
unmarked state of the vibrating glottis, to which all other phonatory states
can be compared. Modal voice lacks any features of breathy voice, creak,
whisper, etc. The chest register is also referred to as the modal register.
(2) See modality (1).
modal auxiliary/verb
see mood
modal base In possible-worlds analyses of modality, a term referring to the
set of worlds over which one must quantify in the interpretation of a modal
sentence. It is usually understood to be established at least partly on a pragmatic
basis.
modality (n.) (1) A term used in grammatical and semantic analysis to refer
to contrasts in mood signalled by the verb and associated categories. In English,
modal contrasts are primarily expressed by a subclass of auxiliary verbs,
e.g. may, will, can. This subclass is symbolized as M in the phrase-structure
rules of a generative grammar. Modal verbs share a set of morphological and
syntactic properties which distinguish them from the other auxiliaries, e.g. no
-s, -ing or -en forms. In case grammar, modality refers to one of the two major
constituents of a sentences’s deep structure, the other being proposition.
(2) See medium.
modal subordination A term used in semantic and pragmatic theory for
a pattern of interpretation in which a sentence containing a modal auxiliary
is interpreted as though it were conjoined to the consequent clause of a
conditional sentence present implicitly or explicitly in the preceding discourse.
An example is If John bought a book, he’ll be home reading it by now. It’ll be
a murder mystery. Modal subordination poses a challenge for certain theories of
anaphora.
mode (n.) (1) A term used in the Hallidayan classification of language
varieties, referring to the medium of the language activity which determines
the role played by the language in a situation. Mode (more fully, mode of
discourse) primarily includes the choice of speech v. writing (along with other
possible subdivisions, such as reading aloud, speech from notes, etc.), but also
includes choice of format (as in newspapers, commentary, poetry, etc.). The
main terms with which it contrasts are field and style.
(2) A term used in tagmemic analysis to label the various dimensions recognized
by the theory, e.g. the distinction between phonological, lexical and
grammatical ‘modes’ (which constitute the main components of the theory),
and between feature, manifestation and distribution ‘modes’ (which are
used to handle the units of linguistic description).