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Similative and Equative Constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Yvonne Treis and Martine Vanhove
[Typological Studies in Language 117] 2017
► pp. 79–90

Chapter 3
Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation)

This article shows that verbs expressing similarity between two entities are not only found in constructions expressing the kind of epistemic modality expressed in English by means of the verb seem, but may also be involved in polysemy patterns including the expression of other types of modalities (volitionality, ability, or obligation). Three examples of African languages illustrating this type of polysemy pattern are first presented. Then, the article examines the historical developments that led from a Proto-Germanic root *līk- ‘(as a noun) form, (as a verb) be of the same form’ to Tok Pisin laik ‘want’. It is followed by a discussion of the possible etymological link between a Bantu verb reconstructed as *ngà ‘be like’ and a Bantu modality marker reconstructable as *nga. The conclusion proposes a scenario according to which verbs originally expressing similarity between two concrete entities may acquire uses in which they express non-epistemic modalities.

Keywords: similative, volitionality, ability, obligation, grammaticalisation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Non-epistemic modalities expressed by verbs also used to express similarity: Three African examples
    • 2.1Bambara kán ‘be equal, must’
    • 2.2Tswana tshwana ‘be similar’ and tshwanela ‘be suitable, must’
    • 2.3Ngbandi léngbì ‘be equal, suffice, deserve, be able’
    • 2.4Conclusion of Section 2
  • 3.From Proto-Germanic *līk ‘body, form; like, same’ to Tok Pisin laik ‘want, like, desire’
  • 4.Bantu *ngà ‘be like; as, if’ and the modality marker *nga
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 31 May 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.04cre
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Cited by

Cited by 2 other publications

Chamoreau, Claudine & Yvonne Treis
2019. Comparaisons d’égalité et de similitude : comme du pareil au même. Faits de Langues 50:1 ► pp. 9 ff. DOI logo
Taine-Cheikh, Catherine
2019. L’expression de la comparaison d’égalitéet de la similitude en arabe ḥassāniyya : Points de vue typologique et diachronique. Faits de Langues 50:1 ► pp. 45 ff. DOI logo

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