Modal geometry

Remarks on the structure of a modal map

Kees de Schepper | Radboud University Nijmegen

Joost Zwarts | Utrecht University

This paper takes a closer look at the ‘geometric’ structure of the semantic map of modality (Van der Auwera & Plungian 1998). By analyzing the different modalities into more basic modal features, we can get a better view on how the map is organized along different dimensions around a neutral middle modality, how the deontic modality fits on the map and what role connectivity plays in defining polyfunctionality. Drawing on data from Dutch, we argue that a basic distinction on the map corresponds to the grammatical raising/control distinction.

Published online: 30 November 2009
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.148.10sch

Cited by

Cited by other publications

Gregersen, Sune

2020. Language death, modality, and functional explanations. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia 52:1 ► pp. 117 ff.

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