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Modality in Language
Author(s) -
Swanson Eric
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
philosophy compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.973
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 1747-9991
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2008.00177.x
Subject(s) - modality (human–computer interaction) , modal verb , evidentiality , modal , linguistics , context (archaeology) , computer science , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , artificial intelligence , philosophy , history , chemistry , archaeology , polymer chemistry , verb
This article discusses some of the ways in which natural language can express modal information – information which is, to a first approximation, about what could be or must be the case, as opposed to being about what actually is the case. It motivates, explains, and raises problems for Angelika Kratzer's influential theory of modal auxiliaries, and introduces a new approach to one important debate about the relationships between modality, evidentiality, context change, and imperative force.