Article published in:
Cognitive Approaches to Tense, Aspect, and Epistemic ModalityEdited by Adeline Patard and Frank Brisard
[Human Cognitive Processing 29] 2011
► pp. 249–278
Communicating about the past through modality in English and Thai
Katarzyna M. Jaszczolt | University of Cambridge
Jiranthara Srioutai | University of Chulalongkorn
The chapter concerns semantic representation of past-time reference. It begins with the proposal that temporality be subsumed under the category of epistemic modality, understood as a degree of detachment from the content of the expressed proposition. We present arguments in support of this stance and refer to other arguments already aired in the linguistic and philosophical literature. We briefly summarise the contextualist theory of Default Semantics and apply it to the analysis of past-time expressions in Thai and English. We point out that the semantic representation of temporal expressions requires a perspective that combines the insights of cognitive approaches to meaning with a formal account of ‘pragmatic compositionality’. We focus on the Simple Past and Narrative Present in English and on the modal auxiliary d1ay1II in Thai that frequently assumes past-time reference.
Published online: 28 July 2011
https://doi.org/10.1075/hcp.29.15jas
https://doi.org/10.1075/hcp.29.15jas
Cited by
Cited by 2 other publications
Jaszczolt, Katarzyna M.
Yossatorn, Yossiri, Theerapong Binali, Sirisira Chokthawikit & Cathy Weng
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