Modals and modality in english

• Autores: Carlos Inchaurralde Besga
• Localización: Miscelánea: A journal of english and american studies, ISSN 1137-6368, Nº 16, 1995, págs. 165-188
• Idioma: español
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• Resumen

  • Modality as a linguistic notion has a clear expression in English through the use of different modal verbs. In this respect, we can approach this fact from both a diachronic and a synchronic perspective. In the development of modals in time, it is interesting to consider Bernd Heine's account, for whom modals' development should be considered within a process of grammaticalization and desemantization of full verbs, fully explainable in cognitive terms. From a synchronic point of view, modality as is expressed by English modals should be viewed in connection with tense and aspect. A convenient way of visualizing the interplay that takes place is the use of Minkowsky's space-time cones, which are presented here with examples illustrating the usefulness of this model for the description of these grammatical notions in an integrated manner.