moods, modality and modal verbs

8/10/2019 Moods, Modality and Modal Verbs

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MOODS, MODALITYAND MODAL VERBS


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Presentation plan

A. Definitions and distinctions (mood, modality)

B. Concepts of modality

C. Ways of expressing modalityD. Types of modality

E. Modal vers.


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Mood

formal category (expressed ! verinflections"a#xiliaries) ! $t%e vario#s &ays in &%ic%t%e action or t%e state is t%o#g%t of y t%e spea'er

(C#rme *+). syntacticastraction &%ose contentt%e

spea'er-s eval#ation of t%e event expressed y t%esentence ver (to e ! somet%ing real"fact#al or

desirale, conditioned, proale, possile,necessary, etc., i.e. disting#is%ing et&een t%eopposition /0 real).


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A type of situation: real or

fact real1

T%e Dan#e flows into t%e Blac' 2ea.

3ala4i is situatedon t%e left an' of t%e Dan#e.

fact (involving a factual meaning)12eptim#s isin love. or 5t is la#g%ale t%at 2eptim#s is in love.

(6es, t%is is a fact1 %e is in love)

(example ! extracted from 7eec% 899+1 89)


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A type of situation: unreal

supposition (involving a theoretical or non-factual meaning)1

reals#pposition (plan for t%e f#t#re)15t is proposed t%at t%e Assemly electa ne& Committee. (mandative

s#:#nctive)

unreals#pposition (referring to an imaginary"%ypot%etical state ofaffairs)15t is la#g%ale t%at 2eptim#s should bein love. (&%et%er %e isin love or not

is a different matter) analytical s#:#nctive0

hypothesis (involving somet%ing contrary to fact, i.e.,acounterfactual meaning)1

5t &o#ld e la#g%ale if 2eptim#s werein love. (#t act#ally %e is not in love)

(examples ! extracted from 7eec% 899+1 89)


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Moods

Indicative ! t%e spea'er-s eval#ation of a state"event to e a fact orsomet%ing real.

T%ey &or' %ard for t%eir daily read.

Subjunctive ! t%e spea'er-s eval#ation of a state"event to e somet%ings#pposed to %appen in t%e f#t#re or s#pposed to %ave %appened int%e past, t%#s involving a t%eoretical or non!fact#al meaning.

;riends should bes#pportive and fran'.

Conditional ! a condition #nderlying t%e statement, t%#s emp%asi


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Modality

() ?t%e spea'er-s relation to reality-

(8) ?t%e spea'er-s eval#ation of state!of!affairs-

(@) -t%e spea'er-s cognitive, emotive, or volitional

#alification of a state!of!affairs-.

Modality may refer to t%e speaker, to t%e eventor tot%eproposition. (ropositions are interpreted %ere

semantically, as sentences expressing a tr#t%, &%ic%is ovio#s ot% t%e spea'er and to t%e %earer). 5t may e &armer in t%e afternoon.


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Scale of certainty

5n an impersonaltone, in declarative sentences,spea'ers may express1(i) certainty1

e is certain to e t%ere.

5t is inevitale t%at t%erewill bea violent o#tcome.(ii) probability1

5t is likely thatt%e footaller &ill e ale t o play. eought to e ale to play.

(iii) possibility1

5t is possible t%at t%e train &ill e delayed. 5 am not certainto e t%ere.

(iv) nil certainty1 5t is not possiblefor Emily to go to college.


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Scale of certainty II

5n a personaltone, in declarative sentences, spea'ers mayexpress t%eir o&n1

(i) conviction(believe, be + convinced, positive, confident, sure,certain)1 5 am sure o#r footall team &ill &in tonig%t.

(ii) conjecture(think, presume, suppose, infer, daresay, expect,judge, conclude, trust, be of the opinion, assume, hold, suspect,subscribe to the view that, anticipate, foresee, predict, prophesy,consider, reckon, surmise, guess, imagine, conjecture)1 5 thinkt%ey &ill e %ere in time.

(iii) doubt(wonder, be + skeptical, doubtful, dubious)1 5 doubt &%et%er t%ere is any %ope for %im.(iv) disbelief(doubt, wonder, be +skeptical, doubtful, dubious +

negative)1 5 dont believein yo#r managerial s'ills.


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Semantic interpretation

Intellectivemodal concepts ! attit#des connected toreason or to t%e spea'er-s"listener-s po&er of:#dgment1 belief, conviction, skepticism, doubt, possibility, prediction,

logical necessity. Emotionalconcepts ! connected to vers of

(positive or negative) attit#de1 admiration, love, desire, hatred, regret, wish, hate,

appreciation, andanger or even(dis)approval.

Volitionalconcepts of modality ! spea'er-s act ofma'ing a c%oice or a decision1 firmness, order, necessity, reuest, application, obligation,

prohibitions, refusal, threat, determination, andwillingness.


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Means of expressingmodality rammatical 7exical Morp%ological

2yntactic

!hetorical


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Lexical means of expressingmodali!

"roper namesinvolving a certain %#mo#r,or concealing e#p%emistic val#es, ('no&nmainly to native spea'ers)1

T%e Old Gentleman/old Gooseberry(2carao4c%i), Mrs Grundy(g#ra l#mii), and Joe Black(Doamna

c# coasa) John Barleycorn(personification of alco%olic

li#or) in1

5 %ave :#st r#n into the John Barleycorn of o#rfamily.


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Lexical means of expressingmodality

En#lish phrases&%ic% s#ggest1 doubt$ tell t%at to t%e marines disapproval$ to &as% one-s dirty linen in t%e

p#lic humouristic disapprovalto e a it on (a fi

af#mat) approval$

yo# may &ell say so irony$t%e devil-s o&n l#c'


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Lexical means of expressingmodality"roverbs% ?modalled idioms and provers- (Croitor#

89981 FGH8>) 1

modalled idioms (i%e%& idioms 'ith a modal value)

!an a duck swim"(vrei cal#le ovI< ")

5t &ill %appen in a month of #undays(la 2fJnt#!aKteaptI)

proverbs

A ad t%ing never dies. (#r#iana rea n# piere)

A ad padloc' invites a pic'loc'. (pa


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Morphological means(nominal constructions)

modal nouns1 possiility, proaility, c%ance,and li'eli%ood.

T%ere-s :#st a chancet%at %e may come.

modaladjectives1 possile, proale, li'ely. a) in impersonal constructions1

Its possible%e may %ave come

b) as part of a nominal group1 T%elikely&inner of t%is afternoon-s race or = t%e

mostprobableo#tcome of t%is trial...


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Morphological means

modaladverbs1probably, possibly, surely,merely.

6o# &ere obviouslydelig%ted &it% yo#r ne& car.

Interjectionscover a large span of feelings1 oh! (s#rprise) ah! (satisfaction, recognition)

aha!(:#ilant satisfaction, recognition) yippee! (excitement, delig%t) ouch! / ow! / ooh! (pain) uh! (disg#st)


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Morphological means(lexical er!s) leical verbsH t%e vers in t%is gro#p express s#c% notions as1 ?assertin- (believe, consider, think, reckon)

5 believe%e &ill e s#ccessf#l in %is career. ?evaluatin- (suspect, guess)

T%e detainees are suspectedto elong to terroristorgani


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Morphological means (er!patterns) le#ico$modal au#iliariesormodal phrases(be have * adjective * infinitive$ be apt$able

to, be capable to, be bound to, be

sure$certain to, be possible$probable$likely to,

be liable to)(Croitor# 89981 F9!)

T%e protesters are sure to bearrested.

Lic'y is likely to&in t%e contest.

the use of remote past1

5 thou#ht5-d go along &it% yo#, if yo# don-t mind


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Morphological means (modalpatterns) modal idioms1would rather, had better, would

sooner, would (just) as soon, had best (dreng%ea,GF)

5 would sooneryo# ass#med responsiilities. 5-m s#re t%ey would %ust as soonstay at %ome

We had bestforget &%at %appened. (N#ir' et al.*F>188G)

modal periphrases$have got to (gotta), be going to(gonna), be willing to, be inclined to, be about to, be

to, be capable of, be supposed$expected to, beallowed$permitted to, be in a position (determined bythe circumstances) to%

2%e was about toleave t%e room &%en t%e p%one rang.


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Morphological means (modaler!s)modal/pure/syntactic au#iliaries1can, could,

may, might, must, have to, shall, should, will,

would, ought to.

Dogs candisting#is% many odors.

pseudo / semi / "uasi modals$need, dare,be to, used to, have to%

2%eneednt

pay for t%at ill, 5 %ave already done it. &are%e steal%is rot%er-s moneyO


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Syntactic means

If$clausesused to express doubt or uncertainty1

If yo# 'no& &%at 5 mean.

If yo# don-t mind my saying so.

'hat if %e-s %ad an accidentO

!hetorical +uestions(positive"negative)1

5s t%at a reason for despairO (Certainly, t%at is not=)

Didn-t 5 tell yo# &ere lyingO (6o# 'no&, 5 told=)


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Syntactic means II

Eclamationsand exclamatory sentences1

!apital& 'ood of$for you&

Eclamatorysentences in t%ene#ative$

(asnts%e lost &eig%t (2%e %as lost &eig%t, %asn-t s%eO)

Eclamatory +uestions&it% a positive form1 id she look annoyed"


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"hetorical means

!epetitions1 T%is car is far& fartoo expensive for #s

Emphatic means1 )ucha ea#tif#l girl

2%e treated t%emsocaref#lly 6o# doloo' nice today

,e#ative intensifiers1not(in t%e ver form) /at all 5 donot/dontli'e vegetalesat all*

t%e #se of non!assertive items, s#c% asany+ e-ll drin' any'ind of :#ice.


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#ypes of modality

To interpret modality, 7. orn (*8)proposes t%ree scales1

t%ey can e defined y () entailmentand

(8) +uantitativeconversational implicat#re1

lo#ical

epistemic

deontic


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Logical scale

T%e lo#ical scalerelates1

necessity tr#t% possiility.

T%#s1

possibleis entailed y necessaryand itimplicatest%e negation of necessary, #tonly if it is regarded as a non!logical

relations%ip.


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$pistemic scale

epistemic scalerelates1 certainty proailitypossiility.

is car is near t%e garden, so %e muste at %ome no&. (certainty) T%ey should e ac' %ome in %alf an %o#r. (proaility) Pennifer is Qictor-s est friend, so s%e may'no& %is address. (possiility)

Epistemic modalities$prediction& (lo#ical) necessityand possibility.

T%e spea'er-s role1 to comment on t%e content of t%e cla#se, to ma'ereference to (lac' of) 'no&ledge or eval#ating an interpretation ofreality.

refers to t%e sentence sub%ect-s (lac' of) 'no&ledgeR it descries t%osemodalities revealing t%e val#e spea'ers attac% to t%eir #tterance


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$pistemic scale II

"rediction! would(narratives) be apt to (repeatedstates"%appenings)1

T%e stage director noticed t%at Brad it was apt toplay complex c%aracters.

o#ical necessity-ased ! process of ded#ction1

! 6o#r moile p%one must e in yo#r ag (s#:ective1 5 'no& yo# 'eep it t%ere)! 6o#r moile p%one has toe in yo#r ag (more o:ective1 ladies 'eep it t%ere)

Epistemic possibility(possiility of somet%ing to e tr#e) ! negativecla#ses ! can1

Ta'e a very good loo' at t%em, t%ey cante real pearls.

Wit%in epistemic modality spea'ers eval#ate an interpretation of reality,and in so doing t%ey refer to (t%eir o&n) 'no&ledge.


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$pistemic scale III

is t%e modality of t%e propositions1 5t is possible for my da#g%ter to e at t%e lirary no&. My da#g%ter may e at t%e lirary no&. (strong possiility) My da#g%ter told me %er today-s planR s%e wille at t%e

lirary no&. (ass#mptive)

Modal certainty1prediction or loical necessity+&ill, m#st, e o#nd to1

T%e roadcast will e over y no&. (prediction, 5 'no& itfrom experience)

T%e roadcast must e over y no&. (logical necessity1t%e lig%ts are off)


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Deonic scale

strong oligation (re+uest)&ea' oligation (su##estion)permission.

6o# mays%are yo#r room &it% yo#r co#sin. (permission) 6o# musts%are yo#r room &it% yo#r co#sin. (oligation) )hall5 #se my e!mail address for t%e conference correspondenceO

(offer)

may(permission) and must(oligation).shall (offer) deontic1 performatives, disco#rse! or spea'er!oriented

vers.

obliationsandpermissions. T%e spea'er-s role1 active one as (s)%e

intervenes in t%e speec% event and since (s)%e refers to oligation andpermission t%is may ring ao#t c%anges in t%e event.

6o# mustoserve t%e deadline or else yo# may miss t%e opport#nity.


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D!namic "ne#ral$a%le$a%ili!&modali!

orny (*G@188F)

() ability$p%ysical po&er or capacity, or from 'no&ledge or s'ill. T%is ox is very %eavy, canyo# lift itO

3rannie is over seventy #t s%e canstill read &it%o#t glasses.

!anyo# only #nderstand 2&edis% or canyo# spea' it as&ellO

(8) abilityres#lting from circ#mstances $e in a position to Can yo# come to t%e meeting tomorro&O (Are yo# free to do

so"in a position to do soO) Can yo# lend me five po#ndsO (Are yo# in a position to do

soO)


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D!namic modali! II

detectale &%en canmeans ?possile for- and mustis #sed toindicate ?necessary for-.

T%e t#tor cangive yo# t%e rig%t ans&er. (meaning1 it is possile for%im to give yo# t%e rig%t ans&er).

6o# mustleave yo#r val#ales in t%e %otel safe eca#se &e do notfeel responsile for t%ings stolen from t%e %otel rooms. (meaning1 it isnecessary for yo# to =)

2#:ect!oriented dynamic modality1 can (aility) and will(&%eninvolving &illingness). 5t refers to t%e modality of events ! not

conditioned deontically. A s'illf#l professional li'e %im canfix yo#r oat in less t%at a &ee'. 5f only t%e %eadmaster willgive #s an intervie&


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D!namic modali! III

Dynamic"aility modalities1physicalcapacity, skillor knowledeas &ell as &it% circumstances &%ic%enale s#:ects to carry o#t a partic#lar tas'.

T%is carpenter can ma'e a c%air and a stool a day.

T%e spea'er-s role1 attit#dinally ne#tral since (s)%eneit%er eval#ates, comments or interprets norintervenes in t%e proposition, #t only asserts or

in#ires ao#t t%e s#:ect-s capacity of performing atas'.

My private secretary cantype +9 &ords a min#te.


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An approach to modal er!s

(e%avio#r) divided into

(a) central$ can& could& may& mi#ht& must& () mar#inal$ used to& ou#ht to& need& dare

2%are morpholo#icaland syntactic

feat#res


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Morphological features ofmodal er!s Canvs to can1

T%ey canplay in t%e sno&.

T%ey canm#s%rooms in t%is &or's%op.

T%ird person1 (e canplay in t%e sno& #t he maynot do it today.

forms1 May&e &ait for yo# %ere. Lo, yo# must not" yo# mustn/t.


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S!nacic fea#res' modali!and empo(aspec#ali!

6o# may smokein t%e %otel lo#nge.

T%ey may have hadan accident.

Actors can be rehearsinfor %o#rs.

2%e must have been watchintelevision for %o#rs t%atis &%y s%e loo's ex%a#sted.


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S!nacic fea#res' modali!and )e passi*e *oice

T%ey may be punishedfor t%eir mista'es.

T%e %ostages may have beenalready 'illed.

T%e prisoner m#st be bein interroatedno&.


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%onclusions

&%en not epistemic, modals may e eit%er subjector objectoriented.

canand willare s#:ect!oriented and refer to t%e aility or&illingness of t%e sentence s#:ect

may, shalland mustare disco#rse!oriented and t%ey relate tot%e spea'er-s action &%en giving permission, ma'ing a promiseor laying an oligation.

T%e syntagm ?disco#rse!oriented- ! meaningf#lly largerR it mayaccept not only t%e spea'er-s #t also t%e %earer-s intervention.

5n a #estion as *ay come in"&%ic% ill#strates an instance ofas'ing for permission, permission relates to t%e %earer and not tot%e spea'er.

moods, modality and modal verbs

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