Resumen de Repositioning Can: Modifications to the English “Modal” System
This paper analyzes the English form can using a Columbia School framework to explain the distribution of this form in written texts in terms of its expressive contribution to communication. Keeping with previous sign-analyses of this form, can is seen as a member of a grammatical system. Contrary to previous analyses, however, can is shown to contribute to a larger range of messages than previously identified, a range that calls for repositioning can in the system of Likelihood. Can’s unique position within the system allow for all message elements found to be associated with can – those well-known of “ability” and “possibility”, as well as many others. Data for the qualitative analyses are drawn from The Art of Gathering (Parker 2018), which provides rich context to support the proposed meaning of can, and demonstrates the need to go beyond the sentence to understand the communicative effects of can. The hypothesis receives further support quantitatively from the written portion of the Corpus of Contemporary American English (Davies 2008). While the focus of this study is on the unique value of can within the system of Likelihood, tentative hypotheses are offered for the other members of the system (e.g., must, may and could).
