151 ФИЛОЛОГ XIII 2022 26 Olufunke O. Fagunleka 1 National Orientation Agency, Research Department David Olorunsogo 2 Pan-Atlantic University, Institute of Humanities, English Unit MODAL AUXILIARIES IN SELECTED NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS ON MEDICAL BRAIN DRAIN IN NIGERIA Abstract: Tis paper explores the conscious deployment of modal auxiliary verbs by the media to project stances and opinions on the topical issue of medical brain drain in Nigeria. Data, which comprised a total of 12 editorials on the issue of brain drain in the Nigerian health sector, were sourced fom four Nigerian newspapers (Punch, Te Guardian, Daily Trust, Te Sun) published between 2018-2022. Te identifed modal verbs were categorised based on Palmer’s (1986; 1990) classifcation of modality: deontic, epistemic and dynamic. Te modal auxiliaries are used to stir up the emotion of concern, project the duty of government and predictions about doctors’ exodus attempts, and communicate the disposition of the government towards the issue. Te editorials are marked with modal auxiliary verbs intended to draw the attention of the public to the responsibilities of the government and the possible outcomes of taking (or not) necessary actions to tackle the menace of medical brain drain. Keywords: modality, newspaper editorials, brain drain, media discourse, deontic modality, epistemic modality, dynamic modality, modal auxiliary verbs. 1. Introduction Te media, through the instrument of language, have created awareness and kept the people informed about issues and happenings within and beyond relative spaces (Sunday and Fagunleka 2017; Olorunsogo and Akinade 2020). Media establishments ofen claim to be objective and transparent in their reportage by posturing as unbiased facilitators of public debate and non-partisan reporters of 1 larafags2015@gmail.com 2 sogodav@gmail.com Original research article UDC 811.111`42:070(669) DOI 10.21618/fl2226151f COBISS.RS-ID 137484289