The different subtypes of FORCE constitute a semantically complex network of meanings. Work is continuing in accounting for the communicative and rhetorical properties of the various options within this general semantic space. The relationship between the options and is highly complex the semantics of various options difficult to define adequately. For one highly provisional mapping of these options you might like to refer to, see Roach 1991: chapter 3, section III.5 - available as an e-mail attachment upon request. The work is continuing and you might like to keep in touch with the appraisal research group for any more recent developments.
Given the complexity of this semantics, therefore, I will not attempt here to provide anything more than a listing of the key options.
· Graders: (adverbials) - slightly, a bit, somewhat, quite, rather, really, very, completely; (adjectivals) - slight, severe (applies, for example, to `headache'); slight, steep (applies to `incline')
· Measure: small, medium, large; narrow, wide; light, heavy etc).
(For a more detailed discussion of these values see White 1998: chapter 3, section III.5)
