Modality in RRG
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Brian Nolan
Abstract
In this paper we are concerned with providing elements of a characterisation of modality in RRG using data from Irish, a VSO language found on the west of Europe. We outline the characteristics of modality drawing on previous work on modality and modal logic, and relate this to patterns in sentence syntax and the semantics of the event frame. Issues of scope and negation are examined and presented. We extend the logical structure notation used in RRG (Van Valin 2005) to include additional logical notation to represent the modality expressions. Deontic modality is concerned with obligation and permission whereas epistemic modality is concerned with knowledge and belief. Modality is also concerned with coding of necessity versus possibility and, in some accounts, with the idea of “possible worlds” (Portner 2005). We motivate a relationship formally between deontic, dynamic and epistemic modality in terms of RRG. A characterisation of modality in Irish is also provided.
Abstract
In this paper we are concerned with providing elements of a characterisation of modality in RRG using data from Irish, a VSO language found on the west of Europe. We outline the characteristics of modality drawing on previous work on modality and modal logic, and relate this to patterns in sentence syntax and the semantics of the event frame. Issues of scope and negation are examined and presented. We extend the logical structure notation used in RRG (Van Valin 2005) to include additional logical notation to represent the modality expressions. Deontic modality is concerned with obligation and permission whereas epistemic modality is concerned with knowledge and belief. Modality is also concerned with coding of necessity versus possibility and, in some accounts, with the idea of “possible worlds” (Portner 2005). We motivate a relationship formally between deontic, dynamic and epistemic modality in terms of RRG. A characterisation of modality in Irish is also provided.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
-
Part I. Introduction by the Editor
- Editor's introduction xv
-
Part II. Verbs, argument structure and transitivity
- "Saying" verbs in Spanish 3
- Split intransitivity in Japanese revisited 23
- Reintroducing inverse constructions in Japanese 37
- Transitivity in Kabardian 59
- Ditransitive constructions: Towards a new Role and Reference Grammar account? 75
- Fluid transitivity and generalized semantic roles 101
-
Part III. Syntactic and morphological categories
- Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology 119
- Modality in RRG 147
- RPs and the nature of lexical and syntactic categories in Role and Reference Grammar 161
- “Floating plurals”, prodrop and agreement – an optimality-based RRG approach 179
- Where is the precore slot? Mapping the layered structure of the clause and German sentence topology 203
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Part IV. Syntax, pragmatics and prosody
- A prosodic projection for Role and Reference Grammar 227
- Is Role and Reference Grammar an adequate grammatical theory for punctuation? 245
- The interplay of focus structure and syntax 263
- How missing is the missing verb? 285
- Predication and reference in specificational sentences – functions of English noun phrases 305
-
Part V. The analysis of complex sentences
- Alternative expressions of 'want' complements 321
- An RRG approach to French complementation patterns 337
- Complementizer-gap phenomena 359
- Wari’ Intentional State Constructions 381
-
Part VI. Neurolinguistic and computational aspects of RRG
- Unmarked transitivity 413
- Parsing for Role and Reference Grammar 435
- A Role-Lexical Module (RLM) for Biblical Hebrew 455
- Index of languages 479
- Index of subjects 481
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
-
Part I. Introduction by the Editor
- Editor's introduction xv
-
Part II. Verbs, argument structure and transitivity
- "Saying" verbs in Spanish 3
- Split intransitivity in Japanese revisited 23
- Reintroducing inverse constructions in Japanese 37
- Transitivity in Kabardian 59
- Ditransitive constructions: Towards a new Role and Reference Grammar account? 75
- Fluid transitivity and generalized semantic roles 101
-
Part III. Syntactic and morphological categories
- Unification and separation in a functional theory of morphology 119
- Modality in RRG 147
- RPs and the nature of lexical and syntactic categories in Role and Reference Grammar 161
- “Floating plurals”, prodrop and agreement – an optimality-based RRG approach 179
- Where is the precore slot? Mapping the layered structure of the clause and German sentence topology 203
-
Part IV. Syntax, pragmatics and prosody
- A prosodic projection for Role and Reference Grammar 227
- Is Role and Reference Grammar an adequate grammatical theory for punctuation? 245
- The interplay of focus structure and syntax 263
- How missing is the missing verb? 285
- Predication and reference in specificational sentences – functions of English noun phrases 305
-
Part V. The analysis of complex sentences
- Alternative expressions of 'want' complements 321
- An RRG approach to French complementation patterns 337
- Complementizer-gap phenomena 359
- Wari’ Intentional State Constructions 381
-
Part VI. Neurolinguistic and computational aspects of RRG
- Unmarked transitivity 413
- Parsing for Role and Reference Grammar 435
- A Role-Lexical Module (RLM) for Biblical Hebrew 455
- Index of languages 479
- Index of subjects 481
