On determination of the part-of-speech affiliation of modal words

The subject of this research is the part-of-speech affiliation of modal words – a special group of lexemes that are irreplaceable, syncategorematic, and lack formal unity. The author examines four most widespread approaches towards determination of the part-of-speech status of modal words, modal semantics, in particular, and the function of modal meaning; provides summary of the existing in Russian linguistics classifications of modal words, and lists their basic lexical-semantic categories. In the course of studying the genesis of modal words, the author correlates them with other parts of speech. For determination of the part-of-speech status, emphasis is placed on the degree of manifestation within this group of lexemes of semantic, morphological, syntactic and word-forming characteristics, namely the compliance of modal words with the listed criteria. The novelty consists in the analysis of the part-of-speech affiliation of modal words through the prism of the traditional semantic-syntactic approach, considering the formal-morphological aspect of modal words, which allows accumulating the avaliable knowledge on modal words, as well as compiling holistic representation on the nature of their origin and functionality. The research materials can be used in teaching morphology of the modern Russian language, as well as in preparation of lectures and textbooks on cognate disciplines. The conclusion is made that in synchrony, modal words represent an isolated group that is in-between of autosemantic and functional words. The recommendation to classify this group as a separate part of speech remains polemical; however, segregation of modal words in the grammatical system is unarguable.

Modal Structuralism with Theoretical Terms

In this paper, we aim to explore connections between a Carnapian semantics of theoretical terms and an eliminative structuralist approach in the philosophy of mathematics. Specifically, we will interpret the language of Peano arithmetic by applying the modal semantics of theoretical terms introduced in Andreas (Synthese 174(3):367–383, 2010). We will thereby show that the application to Peano arithmetic yields a formal semantics of universal structuralism, i.e., the view that ordinary mathematical statements in arithmetic express general claims about all admissible interpretations of the Peano axioms. Moreover, we compare this application with the modal structuralism by Hellman (Mathematics without numbers: towards a modal-structural interpretation. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1989), arguing that it provides us with an easier epistemology of statements in arithmetic.

The Syntactic and Semantiс Properties of Modal Words in German

The aim of the article is to examine the semantic and syntactic properties of modal words in German. The paper analyzes the types of modal semantics which are encoded in modal words; the peculiarities of the syntactic use of modal words are shown; the relationship between the type of modal semantics and their syntactic use is revealed, and the question which words with evaluative semantics can be classified as modal is considered. The relevance of this kind of work is determined by the following circumstances: firstly, it is necessary to describe the syntax and the semantics of modal words and their grammar features; secondly, it is important to reveal the relationship between modality and evaluativity and, thirdly, to define the conditions under which modal words can encode not one but several modal meanings. By using the transformation method and the method of component analysis the following groups of modal words were identified: modal words with alethic semantics; modal words with epistemic semantics; modal words with evidential semantics. Some modal words build separate groups: The modal word angeblich has evidential semantics, because it indicates the third person as a source of information; the modal word wahrscheinlich can have epistemic or evidential or alethic and evidential semantics; the modal word leider is able to express an emotional attitude of the speaker. The identification of different types of modal words is possible through the research of their syntactic properties, namely: the usage in dependent object clauses with the epistemic and factive predicate in the matrix clause; in conditional sentences as well as the ability to have independent usage as an answer to a question without a question word.

A'ingae =sa'ne 'APPR' and the semantic typology of apprehensional adjuncts

We explore the semantics and typology of functional morphemes encoding apprehensional, i.e. negative prospective, meanings through a detailed case study of the adjunct uses of =sa'ne 'APPR' in A'ingae (or Cofán, ISO 639-3: con, an Amazonian isolate). We provide one of the first formal accounts of apprehension: In a structure [p [q=sa'ne]], =sa'ne 'APPR' encodes a modal semantics where the goal worlds of the actor responsible for p avoid a salient situation r=>q. Finally, we reveal two inherent asymmetries among apprehensional functions (precautioning asymmetry and timitive asymmetry), thus making substantial predictions with regards to typological patterns in apprehensional morphology.

Syntactic means of expressing a possibility in the Tuvan language

Tuvan biverbal analytical constructions are fixed verb combinations characterized by specific morphosyntactic and semantic properties. They consist of a lexical verb in the form of a participle or participle and an auxiliary verb. This is an unchangeable part of the construction, - a constant. The paper discusses the syntactic means of expressing modal meanings in the functional block of possibilities in the Tuvan language in comparison with the Altaic and Khakass languages. One of these tools is analytical verbal constructions. The author characterizes these constructions with modal semantics of the possibility/impossibility to perform an action. The second component of such constructions can be expressed by grammatical and lexical means. Lexical means are modal words, particles. The grammatical means include infinite forms, modal verbs, and mood and voice forms. The function of the constructions under consideration is a verb predicate. With varying degrees of grammaticalization, they are included in the range of analytical constructions with a wide range of semantics, being a wide-spread, universal, flexible means of conveying the meanings of possibility/impossibility in the modern Tuvan language. Structurally, analytical constructions are a compact way of representing modal meanings, combining several meanings in one structure.

Quasi-passive reflexive constructions: Bridging autonomous and passive situations

It is common for languages crosslinguistically to employ the same verb form in several diathetic constructions distinguished by a different degree of agent suppression. In South Slavic languages the so called ‘quasi-passive reflexive se-constructions’ (QRCs) encode a number of non-factual situations, expressing an array of semantically close meanings unified by modal semantics. The paper argues that QRCs in South Slavic languages represent a gradient category comprising potential, normative and generalizing situation types. The difference between these subclasses depends on the degree of implication of the agent in the construction: the agent is indirectly evoked in the potential, its presence can be felt in the normative, and a non-referring agent is present in the generalizing constructions. The intended interpretation of QRCs is obtained through the predicate-participant relation and pragmatic factors. In shaping the setting the latter may trigger overlapping between the subclasses. The goal of the paper is to prove that QRCs supply the cognitive link between anticausative reflexive (coding autonomous events) and passive reflexive constructions (coding agent defocusing situations): the potential type is closer to anticausatives, while the generalizing type shows affinity with passives. Such scalar analysis of QRCs may contribute to a better understanding of the typology of reflexive constructions.