Linguistic modality

Modality is a term in linguistics, especially semantics. A modal statement is in contrast to a statement that is in fact, that describes an individual facts of the real world. The other hand, modal statements describe Possible, Necessary and similar concepts. An influential theory for the representation of modality is the possible world semantics.

Grammatically modality is specific terms marked (eg, modal verbs, Satzadverbien, subjunctive, etc. ), but also simple sentences in the indicative mood, certain conditions may obtain a modal interpretation.

Classification

FR Palmer shares the different types of modality as follows:

• Propositionalmodalität Epistemic modality
• Evidentiality

• Deontic modality
• Dynamic modality

For other authors dynamic modality is also referred to as ontic modality.

Common types of modality

Words that make the modality indicated, are shown in italics

I believe that it is already there. She is probably already there. You just have to be there already. You will probably already there. ( constructed as future tense, with the adverbs " probably " or " likely " to express belief or conjecture ( also present ). )

Come on now finally! Could you perhaps please come? You have to come.

I would have long ago bought a car, if the oil price would have fallen.

I can not come today.

He said that he had already done the work.

Modality in European languages

In European languages, modality, by specific modal verbs ( can, must, may, might, should, want ) expressed as well as the mode of the verb ( subjunctive, indicative, imperative ). This led to the assumption that modality is a property of the verb and can be expressed adequately with verbs. This assumption is correct in any language. Modality is a property of the whole sentence. From adverbs and modal particles (yes, really ) to the set of characters consists of the intonation a variety of linguistic phenomena, all of which are used to Modalitätsbildung. Often a combination of distributed over the set of elements is necessary to express a particular modality.