Categories of modality and its role in language. The meaning of the word modality in a large modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language


Modality is a conceptual category. It expresses the relationship of the reported to its actual implementation, established (determined) by the speaker. The relation of an utterance to reality in the Russian language is expressed using various means - lexical, morphological, syntactic.
A special morphological means of expressing the modality of an utterance are the mood forms of the verb, which convey a wide variety of modal meanings and shades (see § 143).
The syntactic means of expressing modality are, first of all, various types of introductory and plug-in words and constructions (phrases and sentences), for example: I believe, believe, as we see, to tell the truth, I assure you, of course, beyond (without) any doubt, as far as I remember , we are all deeply convinced, it is high time to admit, etc.
Various meanings of modality are inherent in narrative (affirmative, negative), interrogative, motivating, exclamatory sentences. Cf .: Birds fly south. It's morning already. It's getting light. Nobody came to me. I do not agree with this. Go away! Who is this? Get up! You should lie down. Sit down. Sits to himself. How I love you! It's time to sleep. Is it possible to trust him? It would be nice to sleep now. I need you!..
Modal meanings are included in the semantic content of many significant words related to various parts of speech. These are, for example: 1) nouns: true, false (not) true,
doubt, assumption, possibility, etc. 2) adjectives: (not) correct, (not) false, (not) possible, (optional, doubtful; sure, should, etc.; 3) adverbs: (not) ) correct, (impossible, (not) necessarily, doubtful, confident, etc. 4) verbs: assert, deny, doubt, assume, assure, etc. Such words express modality lexically. These words of different parts of speech are combined into one lexico-semantic group by a common type of lexical meaning - the designation of modality. At the same time, these words are grammatically heterogeneous, each of them has all the grammatical features of its part of speech.
Against the background of such words, the so-called modal words stand out, separated into an independent part of speech. They are combined on the basis of common lexical meaning and grammatical properties and functions.

More on the topic § 189. Modality and means of its expression in Russian.:

  1. Means of expressing communicative meanings in Russian
  2. 22. Modal frame of the statement. Means of expressing subjective modality.
  3. INTONATION AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING SUBJECTIVE-MODAL MEANINGS

"SURGUT STATE UNIVERSITY

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra"

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS

Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

COURSE WORK

Topic: "Comparative analysis of modality in Russian and English (based on the works of K. Mansfield and their translation into Russian)"

Surgut 2012

Introduction

Chapter I. Theoretical Aspects of Modality

1 General concept of modality

2 Definition of modality

4 Ways of expressing modality in English

4.1 Mood and modality

4.2 Modal words

4.3 Modal verbs

5 Ways of expressing modality in Russian

5.1 Mood and modality

5.2 Modal words

5.3 Modal particles

Chapter II. Practical aspects of modality

1 Comparative method

2.2 The verb Must and Have to

3 Verbs Can and Could

4 Verbs May and Might

5 The verbs Should and Ought to

2.6 Modal words

Conclusion

List of used literature

Applications

Introduction

This course work is a comparative study of the category of modality in Russian and English. In linguistics, the problem of modality has received extensive coverage. This problem was paid attention to by such scientists as Sh. Balli, V.V. Vinogradov, A.A. Potebnya, I. D. Arutyunova, A. J. Thomson, I. Heinrich, B.F. Matthies, S.S. Vaulina, N.S. Valgin and others.

The relevance of this workis that modality has been at the center of linguistic research since the 1940s. Its properties are still poorly understood, as evidenced by the increased interest in this phenomenon on the part of modern researchers.

Object of studymodality in modern English and Russian languages.

Subject of studyare modal verbs, words, particles and mood forms of the verb.

The purpose of this workis to identify ways to express modality in Russian and English and systematize existing knowledge about it. In the course of our research, we have identified the following tasks:

.Give an interpretation of the concept of modality in general;

.Analyze various approaches to the definition of the category of modality that exist in linguistics;

.Identify the difference between modality and inclination;

.To characterize the means of expressing modality in Russian and English;

.Consider the expression of modality on the material of the works of K. Mansfield and their translation into Russian.

When writing the course work, the following were used methods: method of analysis, method of observation, method of comparison, method of statistical processing.

Practical valueof this work is determined by the possibility of applying the results of the study in linguodidactics when studying a literary text, in teaching elective courses and conducting seminars (on theoretical grammar, functional stylistics and other disciplines), when comparing textbooks and teaching aids.

Work structure. The work consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion and a list of references.

Chapter I. Theoretical Aspects of Modality

1 General concept of modality

Perhaps there is no other category about which so many conflicting points of view would be expressed. Many authors include in the category of modality the most heterogeneous meanings in their essence, functional purpose and belonging to the levels of the language structure. Meanwhile, the problem of modality and the linguistic means of its expression is widely discussed in linguistics and logic, since this category belongs to the area of ​​linguistic phenomena where their connection with the logical structure and thinking is the most direct. Modality is an important characteristic of a sentence, where it acts as a language unit, and on the other hand, it is considered as an essential feature of a judgment as a form of thinking. Therefore, the analysis of the linguistic category of modality can be carried out only in close connection with the analysis of the logical category of modality.

2 Definition of modality

Linguistics has come a long and winding path in the study of modality, based on the achievements of logic, semiotics and psychology. However, modality has not yet received a full explanation due to its versatility, specificity of linguistic expression and functional features. Researchers give different definitions of the category "modality". Let's consider some concepts.

O.S. Akhmanova considers modality as “a conceptual category with the meaning of the speaker’s attitude to the content of the statement and the relationship of the content of the statement to reality (the relationship of the reported to its actual implementation), expressed by various lexical and grammatical means, for example, mood forms, modal verbs, etc.” Modality can have the meaning of statements, orders, wishes, assumptions, reliability, unreality, etc. In the definition of O.S. Akhmanova says that modality can have several meanings, one of which is reliability. In a sentence, the speaker or writer formulates the thought that he wants to convey to the listener or reader. Sentences differ from each other in terms of the purpose of the statement, in emotional coloring, and also in the degree of truth or falsity of the information contained in them, that is, in the degree of reliability. Unlike declarative and interrogative sentences, which are differentiated by subjective modality, incentive sentences with a verb-predicate in the imperative mood do not differ in the degree of reliability of the transmitted content. In this sentence, the modal word expresses not the degree of certainty, but the intensity of the impulse.

Thus, we have three structures of the same type, three levels, each of which has its own truth, its own lies and its own uncertainty. The level of categoricalness of the statement decreases as you move from knowledge to certainty, and then to the area of ​​uncertainty.

The Russian dictionary of foreign words gives the following definition: modality [fr. Modalite< лат. Modus способ, наклонение] - грамматическая категория, обозначающая отношение содержания предложения к действительности и выражающаяся формами наклонения глагола, интонацией, вводными словами и так далее .

The large encyclopedic dictionary "Linguistics" gives the following wording: modality [from cf. lat. modalis - modal; lat. modus - measure, method] - a functional-semantic category that expresses different types of relation of the statement to reality, as well as different types of subjective qualification of the reported. Modality is a linguistic universal, it belongs to the main categories of natural language.

According to M.Ya. Bloch, modality is the semantics of the relations of denotations to reality. Modality is not considered as a specific category of sentence. This is a broader category, which can be identified both in the field of grammatical and structural elements of the language, and in the field of its lexical and nominative elements. In this sense, any word that expresses some assessment of the relationship of the named substance with the surrounding reality must be recognized as modal. This includes significant words of modal-evaluative semantics, semi-functional words of probability and necessity, modal verbs with their numerous variants of evaluative meanings.

The results of the study of linguistic modality, obtained in the works of G.A. Zolotova, deserve special attention. It defines modality as the subjective-objective relation of the content of the statement to reality in terms of its reliability, reality, compliance or non-correspondence with reality. “The content of the proposal may or may not correspond to reality. The opposition of these two basic modal meanings - real (direct) modality and unreal (unreal, indirect, hypothetical, presumptive) modality forms the basis of the modal characteristics of the sentence.

V.V. Vinogradov in his work “Research on Russian Grammar” adhered to the concept that a sentence, reflecting reality in its practical public awareness, expresses relation (attitude) to reality, therefore, the category of modality is closely connected with the sentence, with the variety of its types. Each sentence includes, as an essential constructive feature, a modal meaning, that is, it contains an indication of the relationship to reality. He believed that the category of modality belongs to the main, central linguistic categories, in various forms, found in languages ​​of different systems. V.V. Vinogradov also noted that the content of the category of modality and the forms of its discovery are historically changeable. The semantic category of modality in languages ​​of different systems has a mixed lexical and grammatical character. In the languages ​​of the European system, it covers the entire fabric of speech.

If in Soviet linguistics the founder of the concept of modality was V.V. Vinogradov, then in Western European linguistics this role belongs to S. Bally. According to the Swiss scientist, “modality is the soul of the sentence; like thought, it is formed mainly as a result of the active operation of the speaking subject. Therefore, one cannot attach the meaning of a sentence to an utterance if it does not contain at least some expression of modality. The content of the syntactic category of modality in the light of the theory of S. Bally combines two meanings, which he, following the example of logicians, proposes to call: 1) dictum (objective content of the sentence) and 2) modus (expression of the position of the thinking subject in relation to this content). “The speaker gives his thoughts either an objective, rational form that is as close as possible to reality, or most often puts emotional elements into the expression in various doses; sometimes the latter reflect purely personal motives of the speaker, and sometimes they are modified under the influence of social conditions, that is, depending on the real or imagined presence of some other persons (one or more).

If we turn to English-language literature with questions about modality, it turns out that they are covered only in grammar books. British and American grammarians believe that modality is conveyed by auxiliary verbs expressing different types of subjective attitude to an event or action. The meanings of obligation, possibilities, probabilities, doubts, assumptions, requests, permissions, wishes, and others are recognized as modal.

The concept of modality first appeared in Aristotle's Metaphysics (he singled out three main modal concepts: necessity, possibility and reality), from where it passed into classical philosophical systems. We find various judgments about modality in Theophrastus and Eudemus of Rhodes, commentators on Aristotle, and later in the medieval scholastics.

A.B. Shapiro names two main types of modality with partial selection of some varieties in them:

· real, in which the content of the sentence is considered as coinciding with reality (in this case, we are talking about sentences in the affirmative and negative form);

· unreal with the following varieties: a) convention; b) motivation; c) desirability; d) obligation and possibilities close to it - impossibility.

Analyzing the category of modality from the content side, the scientist comes to the following conclusion: “The linguistic means by which the speaker’s emotions are expressed, as well as the expressive coloring of statements, have nothing to do with the means of expressing modality in a sentence. Emotionality can be accompanied by sentences with a variety of modalities: affirmative and negative modalities can be colored by emotions of joy, sympathy, friendliness and, conversely, by emotions of sadness, annoyance, regret; the same and many other emotions can be accompanied by modalities of motivation, obligation.

V.V. Vinogradov in his work “On the category of modality and modal words in the Russian language” classified the means of expressing modality and “outlined their functional hierarchy”. He writes: “Since the sentence, reflecting reality in its practical social consciousness, naturally reflects the relation (relation) of the content of speech to reality, the category of modality is closely connected with the sentence, with the variety of its types.” Thus, this category is included by scientists in the sphere of syntax, where it manifests itself in a modal relation to reality from the position of the speaker. He uses, synonymously, the terms "modal meanings", "modal shades", "expressive-modal shades", which include "everything that is connected with the attitude of the speaker to reality". The following are considered modal:

· meanings of desire, intention, desire to perform or perform some action;

· expression of will to carry out some action, request, command, order;

· emotional attitude, emotional characteristics, moral and ethical assessment, emotional and volitional qualification of an action;

· meanings of unreality (hypothetical);

· quantitative and qualitative assessment of individual thoughts from the composition of the message.

N.S. Valgina in the book "Theory of Text" calls modality "the most important element of text formation and text perception", which holds all units of the text together into a single semantic and structural whole. She also draws attention to the distinction between the subjective modality, which determines the attitude of the speaker to the statement, and the objective one, which expresses the attitude of the statement to reality. The modality of the text as a whole is an expression of the author's attitude to the message, his concept, point of view, position of his value orientations. The modality of the text helps to perceive the text not as the sum of individual units, but as a whole work. To determine the modality of the text, according to Valgina, the image of the author (“personal attitude to the subject of the image embodied in the speech structure of the text”) is very important, which plays a cementing role - it connects all elements of the text into one whole and is the semantic and stylistic center of any work.

According to G.F. Musaeva, the category of modality is differentiated into two types: objective and subjective. Objective modality is a mandatory feature of any statement, one of the categories that form a predicative unit - a sentence. This type of modality expresses the relation of what is reported to reality in terms of reality (feasibility or feasibility). Objective modality is organically connected with the category of time and is differentiated on the basis of temporal certainty - uncertainty. The meaning of time and reality - irreality merged together; the complex of these meanings is called objective-modal meanings. Subjective modality is the relation of the speaker to the reported. Unlike objective modality, it is an optional feature of the utterance. The semantic volume of subjective modality is much wider than the semantic volume of objective modality. The semantic basis of the subjective modality is formed by the concept of evaluation in the broad sense of the word, including not only the logical (intellectual, rational) qualification of the reported, but also various types of emotional (irrational) reactions. Evaluative and characterizing values ​​include values ​​that combine the expression of a subjective attitude to the reported with such a characteristic of it, which can be considered non-subjective, arising from the fact itself, the event, from its qualities, properties, from the nature of its flow in time or from its connections. and relationships with other facts and events.

The scope of modality includes:

· opposition of statements according to the nature of their communicative attitude;

· gradations of values ​​in the range "reality - unreality";

· varying degrees of confidence of the speaker in the reliability of his thoughts about reality;

· various modifications of the connection between the subject and the predicate.

G.A. Zolotova distinguishes three main modal planes: 1) the relation of the utterance to reality from the point of view of the speaker; 2) the attitude of the speaker to the content of the statement; 3) the relation of the subject of action to action. At the same time, she explains: “In the works of recent years devoted to the issues of modality, the terms objective modality and subjective modality are encountered.” Proposing to use precisely these concepts, G.A. Zolotova defines the relation in the first formulation as an objective modality, and in the second - as a subjective one. However, the third modal aspect (the relationship between the subject and the action) does not matter for the modal characteristics of the sentence. Fair, in our opinion, are her conclusions that: a) the main modal meaning, or objective modality is a necessary constructive feature of each sentence, subjective modality is an optional feature; b) subjective modality, without changing the main modal meaning of the sentence, presents this meaning in a special light.

According to O.S. Akhmanova gives the following types of modality:

· hypothetical (suppositional) modality). Presentation of the content of the statement as hypothetical;

· verbal modality. The modality expressed by the verb;

· unreal modality. Presentation of the content of the statement as impossible, unrealizable;

· negative modality. Presentation of the content of the statement as untrue.

The Russian grammar of 1980 notes that, firstly, modality is expressed by means of different levels of language, secondly, it is indicated that the category of objective modality correlates with the category of predicativity, and thirdly, a circle of phenomena related to the phenomena of modality is outlined:

.the meaning of reality - irreality: reality is denoted by a syntactic indicative (present, past, future tense); unreality - unreal moods (subjunctive, conditional, desirable, incentive);

.subjective-modal meaning - the attitude of the speaker to the reported;

.the sphere of modality includes words (verbs, short adjectives, predicatives), which, with their lexical meanings, express the possibility, desire, obligation.

So, the linguistic material shows that at the present stage of development of linguistics (mainly Russian), modality is considered as a universal functional-semantic category, that is, "as a system of grammatical meanings that manifests itself at different levels of the language" . “Linguistic modality is a vast and most complex linguistic phenomenon, its features do not fit within the framework of a one-plan operation of division as any specific grammatical category, although it is traditionally called a category. Modality is a whole class, a system of systems of grammatical meanings that manifest themselves at different levels of language and speech. The breadth and multidimensional functional essence of modality rightfully determine its status as a category…” .

4 Ways of expressing modality in English

In modern English, there are grammatical and lexical means of expressing modality. Grammatical means are modal verbs and mood forms. Modal verbs convey various shades of modality, ranging from an assumption that borders on certainty to an assumption that the speaker is not sure about.

Lexical means are modal words. Some linguists speak of modal words as an independent part of speech. Their syntactic function is the function of the introductory member of the sentence. The question of modal words was first raised by Russian linguists in relation to the Russian language. In foreign linguistics, this type was noted, but was not singled out as a special category.

Modality can also be expressed in mood forms. However, these categories should not be identified. Mood is a morphological category of the verb, one of the means of expressing modality. Modality is broader than inclination.

4.1 Mood and modality

Over the past 30 years, many works have appeared in which modality and mood are considered as grammatical categories. Among them we can see works by Lyons (1977), Coates (1983), Palmer (1986), Horn (1989), Traugott (1989), Sweetser (1990), Warner (1993), Bybee (1994), etc.

The main reason to study modality and mood in terms of grammar, according to Plank (1984), is the ability of this category to reflect language changes in a diachronic process, such as grammaticalization processes. Grammarization occurs when lexical units or even constructions used in specific speech situations, after some period of time, can turn into a special grammatical category or into a more grammatical category, and then become more general and abstract.

) there is no clear definition of the categorical semantics of mood;

) when highlighting moods, various criteria are used (formal, semantic, functional);

) traditional grammars use mood systems similar to Latin, Greek and Old English grammars;

) there are different points of view on homonymy and polysemy of verb forms expressing modal meanings.

Despite the apparent simplicity of definition, views on the number of moods, their semantics and means of expression (synthetic and analytical) are, nevertheless, very contradictory. Let's consider the main approaches to determining inclinations.

Generally accepted in traditional grammar is the system of three moods: indicative, imperative and subjunctive. This system is borrowed from Latin grammar.

The indicative mood presents the action as a fact of reality. The imperative mood expresses the impulse to action. The subjunctive characterizes an action as not a fact, but its semantic range also includes non-modal meanings (an unreal condition, a consequence of an unreal condition, a goal, an unfulfilled desire, etc.). On this basis, the subjunctive mood is subdivided into subjunctive 1 and 2. Subsystems include up to five moods. Moreover, the means of expressing the subjunctive mood are also heterogeneous: they include, in addition to synthetic forms, analytical ones. Thus, the system of three moods has its drawbacks.

According to the interpretation of L.S. Barkhudarov, two moods should be distinguished in English: indicative and imperative, and the opposition of these moods takes place within the categorical form of the non-past tense.

The form of the imperative mood is semantically intense and expresses a call to action.

The form of the indicative mood is semantically extensive: its specific meanings are realized only in specific contextual conditions through a different lexical and syntactic environment. At the same time, it should be noted that the leading modal meaning of this form is the correspondence of the content of the statement to reality established by the speaker.

The subjunctive mood in modern English is represented by were and may not be taken into account.

L.S. Barkhudarov, proceeding from the understanding of analytical forms substantiated by him, excludes all combinations of "modal verb + infinitive" from mood forms and considers them in syntax as free phrases.

Past tense forms are excluded by L.S. Barkhudarov from among the mood forms on the grounds that the features of their meaning are determined by the syntactic conditions of their use, and not by the morphological structure. The value of unreality is considered as a derivative value of the categorical form of the past tense (Appendix 1).

The interpretation of the category of mood and combinations of modal verbs with the infinitive, set out in the works of L.S. Barkhudarov, seems to us the most reasonable and realistically reflecting the facts of the language at the present stage of its development.

modal verb semantics mood

1.4.2 Modal words

Modal words express the subjective attitude of the speaker to the thought expressed in the sentence. Modal words have the meaning of assumption, doubt, probability, confidence of the speaker in the thought expressed in the sentence.

Modal words include such words as: perhaps, may be, of course, surely, no doubt, in fact, in truth, etc., as well as words with the -1y suffix, coinciding in form with adverbs: possibly, robably , certainly, naturally, evidently, obviously, happily and others.

Modal words stand in a special relation to the sentence. They are not members of the proposal, because, giving an assessment of the whole situation set out in the proposal, they find themselves as outside the proposal.

Modal words can function as sentence words, similar to the affirmative and negative sentence words Yes and No. However, as B.A. Ilyish, the sentence words Yes and No never change their status, while modal words can be sentence words (in dialogue) or be introductory words in a sentence.

Acting as an introductory member of a sentence, a modal word can take place at the beginning of a sentence, in the middle, and sometimes at the end of a sentence.

Most of the modal words come from adverbs and coincide in form with adverbs of mode of action that have the suffix -1y. Modal words differ from adverbs in meaning and syntactic function. The meaning and syntactic function of an adverb is that it gives an objective description of an action, property, sign, or indicates the circumstances under which the action is performed, and refers to one member of the sentence. The modal word usually refers to the entire sentence as a whole and expresses the speaker's subjective attitude to the thought being expressed.

4.3 Modal verbs

The group of modal verbs includes a small number of verbs that stand out among all verbs with a number of characteristic features in meaning, usage and grammatical forms. These verbs do not have any proper verbal grammatical category (type, temporal reference of the voice); they can only have forms of mood and time, which are indicators of the predicate. Because of this, and also because they lack non-predicative forms (infinitive, gerund, participles), modal verbs are on the periphery of the English verb system.

By their role in the sentence, modal verbs are auxiliary. They denote the possibility, ability, probability, the need to perform an action expressed by a semantic verb. Since they express only a modal relation, and not an action, they are never used as a separate member of a sentence. Modal verbs are always combined only with the infinitive, forming combinations with it, which in the sentence is a complex modal predicate.

By their etymology, most modal verbs are preterite-present. Modal verbs are Defective Verbs because they do not have all the forms that other verbs have. Their lack of inflection -s in the 3rd person singular of the present tense of the indicative mood is explained historically: the modern forms of the present were once forms of the past tense, and the 3rd number of the singular of the past tense did not have a personal ending.

Modal verbs must, should - ought, will-would, can-could, may-might, need can express various shades of assumption. Scientists suggest that modal verbs express objective reality, while introductory words express subjective reality. It can be assumed that the verbs can and may specialize in the transfer of possible, intended actions, and the verbs must, should, might, in addition to the meaning of obligation, also convey the intended, probable actions, thus closely related to the meaning of introductory words, such as perhaps, possibly, probably, certainly. When modal words and introductory words are used simultaneously, in such cases we are dealing with synonymous constructions.

In a sentence, modal verbs are always combined with an infinitive (perfect and non-perfect), forming one combination with it, which is called a compound modal predicate. Modal verbs are not used as separate members of a sentence.

5 Ways of expressing modality in Russian

The facts of reality and their connections, being the content of the statement, can be thought of by the speaker as a reality, as a possibility or desirability, as an obligation or a necessity. The speaker's assessment of his statement from the point of view of the relation of the reported to the objective reality is called modality. Modality in Russian is expressed by mood forms, special intonation, as well as lexical means - modal words and particles. Academician A.A. Shakhmatov resolutely declared the presence in the language, in addition to moods, of other means of expressing modality. He wrote that modality, the nature and character of which have as their source solely the will of the speaker, his emotional urges, can receive several different verbal expressions: firstly, in the form of a verbal predicate, by changing its stem and endings; secondly, in special functional words accompanying the predicate or the main member of the sentence; thirdly, in a special order of words in a sentence; fourthly, in a special intonation of the predicate or the main member of a one-part sentence. In this paper, we will consider the opinion of Russian scientists regarding the distinction between modality and mood, as well as modal words and particles.

5.1 Mood and modality

In speech, in concrete utterance, the relation of action to reality is established by the speaker. However, a certain type of attitude to reality is already laid down in the grammatical form of mood itself. This type of relationship is fixed in the system of mood forms as cells of the grammatical system of the language. The speaker only chooses one or another form of mood, using its inherent grammatical meaning to express the relationship of this action in this particular statement to reality.

The category of mood is the grammatical (morphological) core of a broader functional-semantic category of modality, covering not only morphological, but also syntactic and lexical means of expressing the relationship of an utterance to reality.

Shades of modality, similar to the functions of verb moods, are expressed together with other elements of the sentence by the infinitive: Everyone, lower your collars!

They are connected with the "indicative" modality in the context of the forms of participles and participles. For example: This ringing - strong, beautiful - flew into the room, making the whole mirror glass of large high windows tremble and creamy curtains, brightly lit by the sun, sway.

Modality, but not the grammatical category of inclination, includes forms like say, tie, etc., expressing the unexpected onset of an action with a touch of arbitrariness, lack of motivation, for example: pier to him, what, yes how, but why. These forms cannot be attributed to the imperative mood, with which they outwardly coincide, since they are not semantically related to it in any way. Such forms cannot be attributed to the indicative mood, since they do not have its morphological features (variability in tenses, persons and numbers). V.V. Vinogradov considers these forms as "the embryo of a special, voluntarily mood", noting that it is "close to the indicative, but differs from it in a bright modal coloring." By itself, modal coloring is not a sufficient basis for highlighting a special mood. The considered forms do not have such a semantic feature that would include them in the system of moods as an equal member, which is in certain relations with other members of this system. It is no coincidence that V.V. Vinogradov speaks only of the “embryo” (embryo) of a special mood, i.e. does not put "voluntative" on a par with the three well-known moods. Therefore, it seems appropriate to consider forms of the say type as one of the verbal means of expressing modality (one of the shades of "indicative" modality) outside the grammatical system of moods.

5.2 Modal words

In the textbook of the modern Russian language, modal words are unchangeable words that stand out as an independent part of speech, denoting the relationship of the entire statement or its separate part to reality from the point of view of the speaker, grammatically not related to other words in the sentence.

In a sentence, modal words act as syntactically isolated units - introductory words or phrases, as well as sentence words that express an assessment of what was said earlier in terms of its reliability-unreliability.

According to the lexical meaning, modal words are divided into two large groups:

)modal words with the meaning of a statement: of course, undoubtedly, undoubtedly, certainly, without any doubt, etc.;

5.3 Modal particles

This category of particles expresses the speaker's point of view on reality, on the message about it. In turn, modal particles are divided into the following subgroups:

)Affirmative particles: yes, exactly, definitely, so, yeah, etc .;

)Negative particles: no, not, neither, not at all, not at all, etc.;

)Interrogative particles: really, really, whether (l), really, or something, really, etc .;

)Comparative particles: as, as if, as if;

)Particles containing an indication of someone else's speech: they say, they say, supposedly;

)Modal-volitional particles: yes, would, let, come on.

In modern linguistics, there is no unambiguous opinion regarding the nature and content of the category of modality. The end of the 20th century in linguistics was marked by an increase in interest in language not as a symbolic, but as an anthropocentric system, the purpose of which is the speech-cogitative activity of a person. In this regard, many different areas of science have appeared, such as: cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, ethnopsycholinguistics, psycholinguistics, intercultural communication and others. Modality is a multidimensional phenomenon, and therefore in the linguistic literature there are a variety of opinions and approaches regarding the essence of this phenomenon. All of the listed linguistic directions pose one task - to identify those mental and psychological processes, the result of which is human speech. These mental processes are inextricably linked to modality.

It is important to note that modality is realized either at the grammatical, or at the lexical, or at the intonational level and has different ways of expression. It is expressed by various grammatical and lexical means: modal verbs, words, particles, interjections, moods and other means.

Chapter II. Practical aspects of modality

1 Comparative method

The comparative method is the study and description of a language through its systematic comparison with another language in order to clarify its specificity. The comparative method is primarily aimed at identifying differences between the two compared languages ​​and therefore is also called contrastive and underlies contrastive linguistics. Comparison as a kind of comparative study of languages ​​differs from other types of linguistic comparison, although in general the comparative method merges with the general principles of typology, being applicable to languages ​​regardless of their genetic relationships. In essence, the comparative method differs from the general typological and characterological approaches not by the specifics of the techniques, but by the objectives of the study. It is especially effective in relation to related languages, since their contrasting features show through most clearly against the background of similar features. In this regard, the comparative method approaches the comparative historical method, being in a certain sense its reverse side: if the comparative historical method is based on establishing correspondences, then the comparative method is based on establishing inconsistencies, and often what is diachronically a correspondence appears synchronously as mismatch. The comparative method is aimed at finding similarities in languages, for which it is necessary to filter out the different. Its goal is the reconstruction of the former through the overcoming of the existing. The comparative method is fundamentally historical and pragmatic. The comparative method must fundamentally de-individualize the languages ​​under study in search of a reconstruction of protorealism.

B. A. Serebrennikov rightly wrote about all this, explaining the difference between comparative and contrastive methods: “Comparative grammar has special principles of construction. In them, a comparison of various related languages ​​\u200b\u200bis made in order to study their history, in order to reconstruct the ancient appearance of existing forms and sounds. The comparative method, on the contrary, is based only on synchrony, it tries to establish the different inherent in each language separately, and should be wary of any similarity, since it pushes the individual to leveling and provokes the substitution of someone else's own. Only a consistent definition of contrasts and differences between one's own and another's can and should be a legitimate goal of a comparative study of languages. “When learning a foreign language has not yet reached the degree of automatic, active mastery of it, the mother tongue system exerts strong pressure. A comparison of the facts of one language with the facts of another language is necessary, first of all, to eliminate the possibilities of this pressure of the native language system. "Such grammars are best called comparative rather than comparative grammars."

The historicity of the comparative method is limited only by the recognition of the historical statement of linguistic givenness (not language and languages ​​in general, but precisely the given language and given languages ​​as they are historically given in their synchrony).

Unlike the comparative method, the comparative method is fundamentally pragmatic, it is aimed at certain applied and practical goals, which by no means removes the theoretical aspect of considering its problems.

The comparative method is the property of the synchronous study of language; it establishes a relationship of contrast between the compared languages, which, depending on the level, manifests itself as diaphony (differences in phonological), diamorphy (grammatical divergence), diataxia (syntactic divergence), diasemia (semantic divergence), dialectexia (lexemic divergences registered only in those cases when a lexical match is expected).

The idea of ​​a comparative method was theoretically substantiated by I. A. Baudouin de Courtenay. Elements of comparison were also found in the grammars of the 18th-19th centuries, but as a linguistic method with certain principles, it began to take shape in the 30s-40s. XX century. In the USSR, an important contribution to the theory and practice of the comparative method was made during these years by E. D. Polivanov, L. V. Shcherba, and S. I. Bernshtein. Classic. the use of the comparative method was the research in the USSR by Polivanov (1933), III. Balli in Europe (1935). The value of the comparative method is increasing due to the increasing interest in the linguistic foundations of teaching non-native languages.

2 Verb Must and Have to

Must has only one present tense form. Very often the modal verb must shows obligation or necessity; actions that must be taken.

She seemed to stagger like a child, and the thought came and went through Rosemary s mind that if people wanted to help them mustrespond a little, just a little, otherwise it became very difficult indeed.

The girl staggered like a child, still unsteady on her feet, and Rosemary could not help thinking that if people want to be helped, they themselves mustbe active, well, at least the smallest, otherwise everything becomes terribly complicated.

This verb is the most categorical of the verbs of duty, therefore, when expressing urgent advice or an invitation, it can be translated into Russian with the words: absolutely must, absolutely must.

In the following example, the verb must is used when the speaker decides that something needs to be done. At the same time, his decision was caused by an internal necessity.

She loved it; it was a great duck. She must have it.

She really likes him - such a charm! She must buy it.

Thus, Must + Indefinite / Continuous Infinitive expresses an assumption relating to presenttime . Usually with Continuous, he expresses the assumption that the action is happening at the moment of speech or during the present period of time. However, if the verb is not used in Continuous forms, then it is used with Indefinite forms. As happened in the above example. Rosemary saw the chest and certainly wanted to buy it.

Also, the verb must expresses advice that must be urgently carried out.

"Oh, please" - Rosemary ran forward - "you mustnt be frightened, you mustnt, indeed".

Oh please! Rosemary ran up to her. - No need to be afraid, really, no need.

The translator, taking into account the fact that the main character of the story, Rosemary, has just met a stranger on the street, renders the verb must as No need, but at the same time adds an introductory construction right. This is done on purpose, as it is not customary in Russian culture to give strict, forceful advice to strangers.

The verb Have to expresses the need to perform an action caused by circumstances - must, have to, have to. In terms of meaning, the verb Have to is close to the modal verb must(obligation or necessity from the point of view of the speaker).

In this meaning, it can be used in all forms and tenses, in sentences of any type, in combination with a simple, non-perfect infinitive (Indefinite Infinitive) with a particle to. It has the forms of time: have / has- present tense had- past tense, shall / will have- Future tense .

The waiting-room laughed so loudly at this that he had tohold both hands up.

Everyone burst into such loud laughter that he had toraise both hands up.

Now I had a call for twenty-eight ladies today, but they had tobe young and able to hop it a bit-see?

Today I had an application for twenty-eight girls, but onlyon young ones who know how to jerk their legs.

And I had another call for sixteen-but they had toknow something about sand-dancing.

And another application for sixteen girls, but onlyfor acrobats.

Again, the translator makes a conversion, replaces the modal verb with a modal word.

You shant have to. I ll look after you.

take it easy. I will take care of you.

Here there is such a translational transformation as logical development. The translator relies on the context, which comes in the form of a dialogue. Negative form of shan t have to expresses the absence of obligation or necessity and is translated into Russian by the words: not necessary, not necessary, not necessary. However, if the previous sentence said that the stranger could no longer live like this, then it would be a gross stylistic and factual mistake to translate the verb have to as not necessary. Namely:

I can't take it anymore!

Not necessary. I will take care of you.

2.3 Verbs Can and Could

In most cases, the verb can expresses the ability of a person to perform an action.

"I cantgo on no longer like this. I cantbear it. I cantbear it. I shall do away with myself. I cantbear no more.

"I more I can notSo. I can not stand! I can't stand it! I will do something with myself. I can't stand it!"

In this expression, the verb can is translated not only as I can notbut also how I can't stand it. After the girl drank tea and forgot about fear, she decided to speak out. It is to convey the internal state of the heroine that the translator uses such verbs.

"My darling girl", said Philip, "you re quite mad, you know. It simply cant be done».

"Baby, you're just crazy. It's perfect unthinkable'.things cantgo on like this, Miss Moss, no indeed they cant.

Keep in mind, Miss Moss, that Sogo on can not.

In this example, we see a contraction technique that was used to make the dialogue concise and indignant at the landlady. Moreover, both a modal verb and a modal word were transmitted.

In the following example, the verb can is used in the past tense according to the rules of coordinating tenses (could) and expresses a state of possibility close to certainty.

She could have said: "Now I ve got you", as she gazed at the little captive she had netted.

She looked around at the little captive who had fallen into her net, and she wanted to shout: "Now you can't get away from me!"

This type of transformation occurs quite often, so we are dealing with an internal monologue. The sentence uses the method of holistic transformation, that is, not one word, but the whole sentence has undergone transformation. First comes the permutation along with the conversion, and then the construction could have saidreplaced by turnover wanted to shout, which shows the confidence of the action.

However, if the verb Could is used together with the Perfect Infinitive, then such a construction shows that some action or fact could have happened, but never did.

"You could have letthat room time and time again", she says, "and if people won t look after themselves in times like these, nobody else will”, she says.

You could alreadyten times passthis room,” she said. - Not such times now.

Design could have letis transmitted into Russian in the form of the subjunctive mood could.

We also use the verbs Can and Could when making a sentence. Could is used in formal situations.

« CanI have a cup of tea, Miss? » she asked.

- Is it possibleme a cup of tea, miss? she asked, turning to the waitress.

Adverb it is forbiddenin Russian it is used to express a request, wish or demand. CanAnd is it possiblecoincide in function, so such a replacement is quite acceptable.

4 Verb May and Might

The verb May/Might is used when we ask for permission.

Rosemary, MayI come in? » It was Philip. Of course.

rosemary, Can? - It was Philip. - Certainly.

dareto draw your attention, madam, to these flowers, right here, on the little lady's corsage.

We use "May/Might I...?" constructions to ask permission from someone we don't know very well.

"Madame, MayI speak to you a moment? »

"Madam, Canshould I ask you?"

It is important to remember that May is a very formal verb and is not used in everyday speech.

Well, I ll just wait a moment, if I May.

Well, I'll wait if allow.

Miss Moss asks to be allowed to wait at Kig and Kejit, so the focus shifts to another person.

What was it-if I Mayask?

A Canfind out what this place was?

The verb May can express consent to a request, that is, permission.

It cost twenty-eight guineas. MayI have it? You May, little wasteful one.

It costs twenty-eight guineas. Can, will I buy it? - Can, small reel.

Also the verb May expresses possibility. The construction May / Might + Present Infinitive indicates a possibility or probability in the present or future tense.

I mightjust havea stroke of luck.

AND, Maybe be, I'm lucky.

If I get there early Kadgit may havesomething by the morning s post…

If I come early May be, Mr. Kejit will have something for me, something with the morning mail ...

It gave Miss Moss a queer feeling to watch-a sinking-as you mightsay.

Looking at her, Miss Moss felt a little strange, likeeverything inside of her shrunk into a ball.

The translator makes a holistic transformation, and the verb mightconveys by modal word like.

With the help of May/Might + Perfect Infinitive constructions, we show the possibility or probability that took place in the past.

"She may have hada College education and sung in West End concerts", says she, "but if your Lizzie says what s true", she says, "and she s washing her own clothes and drying them on the towel rail, it easy to see where the finger s pointing".

« Letthere she graduated from at least twenty music schools and sang at concerts in the West End, but since your Lizzie says that she washes her own clothes and dries them in the room on a towel rack, then everything is already clear.

To preserve the form of reproach, the translator uses the word let, which refers to the shaping particles and which serves to command.

The shopman, in some dim cave of his mind, Mayhave dared to think so too.

Must be, the antiquary, in the darkest recess of his consciousness, also boldly arose this thought.

5 The verbs Should and Ought to

The verbs Should and Ought to are used to express advice, desirability, or recommendation.

One oughtnt togive way to them. One ought togo home and have an extra-special tea.

It is forbiddensuccumb to such moments. Need to hurrygo home and drink some tea.

If I m the more fortunate, you ought toexpect...

And if my life turned out better than yours, anyway, maybe someday...

In the above sentence, a logical development is made, and the verb ought toconveyed by the introductory word after alland design May be.

After all, why shouldn'ttyou come back with me?

After all why wouldwon't you come to me?

The verb should is expressed through the formative particle would, which forms the form of the subjunctive mood.

As for herself she didn't t eat; she smoked and looked away tactfully so that the other shouldnot be shy.

She didn't eat anything herself. onlysmoking, tactfully turning away so as not to embarrass the guest.

It uses such types of translation transformations as conversion, that is, the replacement of parts of speech, concretization and addition. Despite such changes, the translator managed to maintain the attitude of the main character to the current situation.

If we compare the verbs Should and Ought to with the verb Must, then Must expresses strong advice.

The verb Should is used to express an assumption with a hint of certainty - probably, it should be, etc. In this meaning, should is used with a non-perfect infinitive (less common than with must).

She put her head on one side and smiled vaguely at the letter. "I shouldn'tt be surprised."

The end of the 20th century in linguistics was marked by an increase in interest in language not as a symbolic, but as an anthropocentric system, the purpose of which is the speech-cogitative activity of a person. In this regard, many different areas of science have appeared, such as: cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, ethnopsycholinguistics, psycholinguistics, intercultural communication, etc. In fact, all of these linguistic areas pose one task - to identify those mental and psychological processes, the result of which is human speech. These mental processes are inextricably linked to modality.

Modality is a functional-semantic category that expresses different types of relation of the utterance to reality, as well as the attitude of the speaker to the content of the utterance. Modality can have the meaning of statements, orders, wishes, etc. and is expressed by special forms of inclinations, intonations, modal words (for example, “possibly”, “necessary”, “should”).

The definition given in the explanatory dictionary of Ushakov D.N. (1996): modality - (eng. modality) a conceptual category with the meaning of the speaker's attitude to the content of the statement and the relationship of the content of the statement to reality (the relationship of the reported to its actual implementation), expressed by various grammatical and lexical means, such as mood forms, modal verbs, intonation, etc.

Modality can have the meaning of statements, orders, wishes, assumptions, reliability, unreality, and others.

The Russian grammar of 1980 notes that, firstly, modality is expressed by means of different levels of language, secondly, it is indicated that the category of objective modality correlates with the category of predicativity, and thirdly, a circle of phenomena related to the phenomena of modality is outlined:

  • - the meaning of reality - irreality: reality is denoted by a syntactic indicative (present, past, future tense); unreality - unreal moods (subjunctive, conditional, desirable, incentive);
  • - subjective-modal meaning - the attitude of the speaker to the reported;
  • - the sphere of modality includes words (verbs, short adjectives, predicatives), which, with their lexical meanings, express the possibility, desire, obligation;

Modality is a linguistic universal, it belongs to the main categories of natural languages. In the languages ​​of the European system, according to Viktor Vladimirovich Vinogradov (1895 - 1969), it covers the entire fabric of speech. Modality is understood as a functional-semantic category that expresses different types of relation of the utterance to reality, as well as different types of subjective qualification of the reported. The term "modality" is used to refer to a wide range of phenomena that are heterogeneous in meaning, grammatical properties and the degree of formalization at different levels of the language. Modality includes the opposition of statements according to their purpose (statement - question - motivation), opposition on the basis of "statement - negation", gradations of values ​​in the range "reality - hypothetical - unreality", different degrees of confidence of the speaker expressed in the statement, various modifications of the connection between subject and predicate, expressed by lexical means (should, want, maybe, need, etc.).

Modality expresses the relationship of the reported to its actual implementation, established (determined) by the speaker. The relationship of the utterance to reality in different languages ​​is expressed using various means - morphological, syntactic, lexical. On this basis, the category of modality should be considered universal.

A special morphological means of expressing the modality of an utterance are the mood forms of the verb, which convey a wide variety of modal meanings and shades.

The syntactic means of expressing modality are, first of all, various types of introductory and plug-in words and constructions (phrases and sentences).

Various meanings of modality are inherent in narrative (affirmative, negative), interrogative, motivating, exclamatory sentences. Modal meanings are included in the semantic content of many significant words related to various parts of speech. Such words express modality lexically. These words of different parts of speech are combined into one lexico-semantic group by a common type of lexical meaning - the designation of modality. At the same time, these words are grammatically heterogeneous, each of them has all the grammatical features of its part of speech.

Against the background of such words, the so-called modal words stand out, separated into an independent part of speech. They are combined on the basis of common lexical meaning and grammatical properties and functions.

As is known, the study of modality in linguistics has a long tradition. Many works are devoted to the problems of modality, in which the concept of modality is interpreted in different ways.

The founder of the theory of modality is considered to be V.V. Vinogradov; his works devoted to this problem (for example, "On the category of modality and modal words in the Russian language") are still very important for linguists. V.V. Vinogradov considered modality to be a subjective-objective category and called it an integral part of the sentence, its constructive feature. .

Representatives of Western European, including English, linguistics who have been and are still dealing with the problems of modality (J. Lyons, R. Kwerk, L.S. Barkhudarov, D.A. Shteling, F. Palmer, A. Vezhbitskaya and many others) have most of the available their points of view on the nature of this category, despite their heterogeneity, is based on the concept of S. Bally, according to which, in any statement, the main content and its modal part can be distinguished, which expresses the intellectual, emotional or volitional judgment of the speaker in relation to the main content ..

Linguistic), “in various forms found in the languages ​​of different systems ..., in the languages ​​of the European system, it covers the entire fabric of speech” (V. V. Vinogradov). The term "modality" is used to refer to a wide range of phenomena that are heterogeneous in terms of semantic volume, grammatical properties and the degree of formalization in different language structures. The question of the boundaries of this category is solved by different researchers in different ways. The sphere of modality includes: opposition of statements according to the nature of their goal setting (statement - question - motivation); opposition on the basis of "statement -"; gradations of values ​​in the range "reality - unreality" (reality - hypothetical - unreality), different degrees of confidence of the speaker in the reliability of his thoughts about reality; various modifications of the connection between and expressed by means (“wants”, “can”, “should”, “necessary”), etc.

The category of modality is differentiated by most researchers. One aspect of differentiation is the opposition between objective and subjective modality. objective modality is a mandatory feature of any statement, one of the categories that form -. Objective modality expresses the relation of what is communicated to reality in terms of reality (feasibility or feasibility) and unreality (unfulfillment). The main means of designing the modality in this function is the category. At the level, the objective modality is represented by the opposition of the forms of the syntactic indicative mood to the forms of syntactic irreal moods (subjunctive, conditional, desirable, incentive, obligatory). The category of the indicative mood (indicative) includes the objective-modal meanings of reality, i.e., temporal certainty: the ratio of the forms of the indicative ("People are happy" - "People were happy" - "People will be happy") the content of the message is assigned to one of three temporary plans - present, past or future. The ratio of forms of unreal moods, characterized by temporal uncertainty (“People would be happy” - “Let people be happy” - “Let people be happy”), with the help of special modifiers (verbal forms and), the same message is assigned to the plan of the desired, required or necessary. Objective modality is organically linked to the category of time and differentiated on the basis of temporal certainty/uncertainty. Objective-modal meanings are organized into a system of oppositions, which is revealed in the grammatical sentence.

subjective modality, i.e., the relation of the speaker to the reported, in contrast to objective modality, is an optional feature of the utterance. the volume of subjective modality is wider than the semantic volume of objective modality; the meanings that make up the content of the category of subjective modality are heterogeneous and require ordering; many of them are not directly related to grammar. The semantic basis of the subjective modality is formed by the concept of evaluation in the broad sense of the word, including not only the logical (intellectual, rational) qualification of the reported, but also various types of emotional (irrational) reactions. Subjective modality covers the whole gamut of different-aspect and different-character ways of qualifying what is communicated that actually exist in natural language and is implemented: 1) by a special lexical and grammatical class, as well as sentences that are functionally close to them; these means usually occupy an autonomous position in the composition of the utterance and function as units; 2) the introduction of special modal particles, for example, to express uncertainty ("like"), assumptions ("unless"), unreliability ("supposedly"), surprise ("well"), fear ("what good"), etc. .; 3) with the help (“ah!”, “oh-oh-oh!”, “alas”, etc.); 4) by special means to emphasize surprise, doubt, confidence, distrust, protest, irony and other emotional shades of a subjective attitude to what is being reported; 5) with the help, for example, putting the main thing at the beginning to express a negative attitude, ironic denial (“He will listen to you!”, “Good friend!”); 6) special constructions - a specialized structural diagram of a sentence or a scheme for constructing its components, for example, constructions like: “No to wait” (to express regret about something that did not materialize), “Take it and tell” (to express unpreparedness, suddenness of action) and etc.

Means of subjective modality function as modifiers of the main modal qualification, expressed by the verbal mood, they are able to overlap the objective-modal characteristics, forming the qualification of "last resort" in the modal hierarchy of the utterance. At the same time, the object of an optional assessment can be not only a predicative basis, but any informatively significant fragment of the reported; in this case, an imitation of an additional predicative core appears on the periphery of the sentence, creating the effect of polypredicativeness of the reported.

In the category of subjective modality, natural language captures one of the key properties of the human psyche: the ability to oppose “I” and “not-I” (a conceptual beginning to a neutral-informative background) within an utterance. In its most complete form, this concept was reflected in the works of S. Bally, who believed that in any statement, the opposition of the actual content (dictum) and the individual assessment of the stated facts (modus) is realized. Bally defines modality as an active mental operation performed by the speaking subject on the representation contained in the dictum. A deep analysis of the functional range of modality and, in particular, specific forms of manifestation of subjective modality at different levels is presented in Vinogradov’s work “On the Category of Modality and Modal Words in the Russian Language”, which served as a stimulus for a number of studies aimed at deepening the search for proper linguistic aspects of the study of modality. (as opposed to logical modality), as well as the study of the specifics of the design of this category in the conditions of a particular language, taking into account its typological features. Many studies emphasize the conventionality of opposing objective and subjective modality. According to A. M. Peshkovsky, the category of modality expresses only one relationship - the attitude of the speaker to the connection that he establishes between the content of the given statement and reality, i.e. "relation to the relationship." With this approach, modality is studied as a complex and multidimensional category that actively interacts with a whole system of other functional-semantic categories of the language and is closely related to the categories of the pragmatic level (see). From these positions, the category of modality is seen as a reflection of complex interactions between four factors: the speaker, the interlocutor, the content of the utterance, and reality.

  • Vinogradov V. V., On the category of modality and modal words in the Russian language, in the book: Proceedings of the Institute of the Russian Language of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, vol. 2, M.-L., 1950;
  • Balli Sh., General linguistics and questions of the French language, trans. from French, Moscow, 1955;
  • Peshkovsky A. M., Russian syntax in scientific coverage, 7th ed., M., 1956;
  • Jespersen O., Philosophy of Grammar, trans. from English, M., 1958;
  • Shvedova N. Yu., Essays on the syntax of Russian colloquial speech, M., 1960;
  • Panfilov VZ, The relationship of language and thinking, M., 1971;
  • Russian Grammar, vol. 2, M., 1980;
  • Bally Ch., Syntaxe de la modalité explicite, "Cahiers F. de Saussure", 1942, no. 2;
  • Urovic L., Modálnosť, Brat., 1956;
  • Jodlowski S., Istota, granice i formy językowe modalności, in his book: Studia nad częściami mowy, Warsz., ;
  • Otázky slovanské syntaxe. III. Sborník symposia "Modální výstavba výpovědi v slovanských jazycích", Brno, 1973.

M. V. Lyapon.


Linguistic encyclopedic dictionary. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ch. ed. V. N. Yartseva. 1990 .

Synonyms:

See what "Modality" is in other dictionaries:

    Modality- (from lat. modus size, method, image) in different subject areas, a category that characterizes the mode of action or attitude to action. Modality (linguistics) Modal logic Modality (programming) Modality (psychology) ... ... Wikipedia

    modality- and, well. modalite f. Modal property. Krysin 1998. I always knew this girl as the most modest, and even, let me tell you, that her modality always seemed exaggerated to me. I reproached her for the backward trend of ideas and the lack of ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

    MODALITY- (from lat. modus measure, method) assessment of the connection established in the statement, given with one or another t.zr. Modal assessment is expressed using modal concepts: “necessary”, “possible”, “accidental”, “provable”, “refutable”, “mandatory”, ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

    modality- (from Latin modus method) one of the main properties of sensations, their qualitative characteristics (color in vision, tone and timbre in hearing, the nature of smell in smell, etc.). Modal characteristics of sensations, in contrast to their other characteristics ... ... Great Psychological Encyclopedia

    Modality- Modality ♦ Modalité It happened on the day when I invited five or six of my friends to a restaurant to celebrate the release of a magazine we used to work on together. Among them were A. and F. - both prominently distinguished ... ... Philosophical Dictionary of Sponville

    MODALITY- (in philosophy) denotes a judgment in which the speaker determines the degree of reliability of the judgment itself. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Pavlenkov F., 1907. MODALITY Such a judgment in philosophy, in ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

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INconducting

Perhaps there is no other category, on the linguistic nature and composition of particular meanings of which so many conflicting points of view would be expressed, as on the category of modality. Most authors include in its composition the meanings that are the most heterogeneous in their essence, functional purpose and belonging to the levels of the language structure, so that the category of modality is deprived of any certainty.

Modality is the basis of the formal-grammatical classification of sentences according to the modal feature. Sentences of various types, divided by subjective modality, form a formal paradigmatic series. The difference in sentences according to subjective modality - the degree of reliability of the content of the sentence from the point of view of the speaker - is their difference both in form and in content. In the cognitive process aimed at one or another phenomenon of reality, the speaker evaluates the degree of reliability of the thought he is forming about reality. Any judgment, characterized by the subjective modality of categorical certainty, can be not only true, but also false, since the subjective assessment of the reliability of the thought expressed by the corresponding sentence may not coincide with the extent to which this thought actually corresponds to reality.

The purpose of the course research is to study the category of modality in the Russian language. To achieve this goal, a number of tasks should be solved, namely:

To reveal the concept and essence of modality;

Consider modality as a semantic category;

To study what special forms of mood can express modality;

Consider modal words in the work of I. Odoevtseva "On the banks of the Neva".

The solution of the tasks was carried out using the following theoretical and empirical research methods:

Method of theoretical analysis and synthesis;

induction method;

Method of quantitative and qualitative data processing;

comparison method;

Classification method;

Generalization method.

The object and material of the course work is the work of I. Odoevtseva, the choice of which is explained by the large number of modal words used in it.

The subject is modal words as a means of expressing the subjective assessment of the reported.

The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that on the example of the work of I. Odoevtseva "On the banks of the Neva" the lexical-semantic features and functional-stylistic potential of modal words are considered. This information will be useful not only in the study of the language and style of the works of I. Odoevtseva, but in the study of modal words as a part of speech in their direct use in the text.

The theoretical significance of the course work is that it considers the category of modality and the functioning of modal words in the Russian language.

The practical value of the work lies in the fact that the research materials can be used in the preparation of textbooks and teaching aids on the modern Russian language, in the course of teaching the disciplines "Morphology", "Stylistics".

1. Ffunction-semantic category of modality(KM) and its implementation in Russian

1.1 Modality as langblack universal

Modality (from cf. lat. modalis - modal, lat. modus - measure, method) - a semantic category that expresses the speaker's attitude to the content of his statement, the target setting of speech, the attitude of the content of the statement to reality. Modality is a linguistic universal, belongs to the main categories of natural language.

Modality is a category that expresses the attitude of the speaker to the content of the statement, the attitude of the latter to reality. Modality can have the meaning of statements, orders, wishes, etc. Modality is expressed by special forms of moods, intonation, modal words (for example, "maybe", "necessary", "should"); in logic, such words are called modal operators; they indicate the way in which judgments (statements) are understood.

The end of the 20th century in linguistics was marked by an increase in interest in language not as a symbolic, but as an anthropocentric system, the purpose of which is the speech-cogitative activity of a person. In this regard, many different areas of science have appeared, such as: cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, ethnopsycholinguistics, psycholinguistics, intercultural communication, etc. In fact, all of these linguistic areas pose one task - to identify those mental and psychological processes, the result of which is human speech. These mental processes are inextricably linked to modality.

Academician V.V. Vinogradov (professors S.I. Abakumov, E.M. Galkina-Fedoruk and others are unanimous with him) singled out modal words in the system of parts of speech of the Russian language.

Modal words are words that correlate the content of a sentence with reality and act as an introductory word or sentence word. For example, Pokorsky is incomparably superior to him, no doubt.(I.T.) She was probably sick.(F. Ch.) In the first sentence, the modal word indisputably indicates that what is reported is reliable, corresponds to reality, in the second, the modal word probably indicates that what is reported in reality is only possible, i.e. may not be a fact reality.

Modal words function in a sentence. One of the most important grammatical features of a sentence is the category of predicativity, which expresses the objectively existing relation of the content of the utterance to reality. Predicativity is a mandatory grammatical feature of a sentence in any language. The relationship of the content of an utterance to reality is expressed using the categories of modality, syntactic tense, and person.

Modal relations depend on the real relations between the subject of speech (the speaker), the utterance and objective reality. The meaning of modality as a grammatical category lies in the nature of these relations.

The statement can be thought of by the subject of speech as real or unreal (unreal), i.e., a possible, desirable, required fact of objective reality. For example, the statement is conceived by the speaker as a real fact in the present, past or future: It is snowing. It was snowing. It will snow, like a surreal fact.: It would snow. Let it snow. In this case, we can talk about objective modality, which in Russian is expressed by grammatical categories of mood, tense, and intonation. However, the speaker may have his own subjective attitude to the objective (real or unreal) modality of the sentence. Therefore, a category of subjective modality is singled out, which expresses greater or lesser certainty / unreliability of the fact of objective reality. Language means of expressing subjective modality in Russian are very diverse: intonation, repetitions, word order in a sentence, modal words, modal particles, as well as syntax units - introductory words, phrases and sentences. Thus, modal words are one of the linguistic means of expressing the category of subjective modality. The grammatical category of subjective modality is not a mandatory feature of a sentence. Wed: Of course, it will snow and it will snow. The content of the statement in the absence of a modal word has not changed.

Thus, modality is a grammatical category that expresses the attitude of the speaker to the content of what is being expressed, the attitude of the statement to reality.

Modality in the Russian language has different means of expression: lexical ones are significant words belonging to different parts of speech: truth, lie, want, be able, doubtful, confident, etc .; morphological - these are forms of mood, tense of the verb; syntactic - these are different types of sentences - narrative, incentive, interrogative and negative. Among the listed means, a special place is occupied by modal words, which are separated into an independent part of speech and express subjective modal meaning.

From the point of view of the speaker, judgments are divided into those that he considers true ("I know that" cf. Twice two - four), those that he considers false ("I know that it is not" cf. Twice two - five).

So, we can conclude that the differences in the ways of expressing the category of modality are partly related to internal differences in its very syntactic-semantic functions, in its functional-semantic essence.

1.2 Modality as semenistic category

The concept of "functional-semantic field", which was initiated by the works of F. de Saussure, is one of the leading in modern linguistics. The followers of the ideas of the great linguist formed a functional branch of linguistics, which is represented in a number of linguistic schools, the largest of which are: Prague, London and Copenhagen. In our country, the functional direction was developed by A.V. Bondarko, N.A. Slyusareva, G.S. Shchur, V.S. Khrakovsky and others who base their research on the ideas of the luminaries of Russian linguistics V.V. Vinogradova, K.S. Aksakov, I.I. Meshchaninova, A.A. Potebni, A.M. Peshkovsky, A.A. Shakhmatova.

As you know, the method of the functional-semantic approach consists in a special interest in the semantic side of linguistic phenomena, there is a search for a connection between meaning and form, and functional grammar takes the semantic element as the main one. A.V. Bondarko points out that the identification of universals in this direction of linguistics is associated with a reflection of the real-life structural organization of a particular language. This principle of consistency in the study of language structures is a mandatory requirement of functional grammar. Such a structural approach fully reflects the nature of the language, which is not a random accumulation of individual sounds, words and structures, but an internally connected, organized whole. Linguistic realities are deeply interconnected, interpenetrate each other, and this should be taken into account in order to indicate the place occupied by one or another phenomenon in the system under study. This approach deserves especially close attention, as it allows us to consider language structures from several sides. Indeed, each phenomenon in the language system has not only its own meanings and qualities, but also those that are due to its relationship with other structures. Thus, this approach seems to us the most acceptable in our work, since the linguistic phenomenon under consideration, namely modality, is a complex structure, the place of which in relation to other language systems is a decisive factor in solving translation problems.

The concept of a functional-semantic field is one of the central ones in functional grammar. It is defined as a phenomenon based on a certain semantic category and representing the unity of grammatical and "combat" lexical units, as well as various combined means interacting on the basis of the commonality of their semantic functions.

The core of the FSP of modality is the morphological means of expressing modality. In the predicative core of the FSP of modality are modal verbs; on the periphery - the category of mood, related to the syntactic means of expression, then phraseological units, related to the lexical means of expressing modality. This field is monocentric with one integral predicative core.

The study and construction of semantic fields is very important, as it helps to systematize and combine linguistic elements that have a common semantic function, and to single out those for which this semantic feature is predominant in the core of the semantic field, and to place the rest on the periphery according to the degree of weakening of this feature. . The use of semantic fields makes it possible to express any human thought more broadly, more accurately and more emotionally.

In modern linguistics, the description of functional-semantic categories and multi-level means of their verbalization within the framework of the functional-semantic field, including the description of the functional-semantic category of modality, is becoming one of the leading methods of linguistic research.

1.3 Categories of modalityand in Russian

Distinguish between objective and subjective modality.

Objective modality is a mandatory feature of any statement, one of the categories that form a predicative unit - a sentence. Objective modality expresses the relation of what is communicated to reality in terms of reality (feasibility or reality) and irreality (non-realization). The main means of designing such a modality is the category of the verbal mood, as well as syntactic particles in some cases - the grammatically significant order of the main members of the sentence. In a concrete utterance, these means necessarily interact with one or another intonational construction. All this finds expression in syntax in the forms of the syntactic indicative mood (indicative) and in the forms of syntactic irreal moods (subjunctive, conditional, desirable, incentive, obligatory). Objective modality is also organically linked to the category of time. However, mood and tense should be distinguished as verbal and syntactic categories.

Since in many languages ​​not only verbal, but also verbless sentences are widely represented, the verb with its morphological categories cannot be recognized as the only carrier of these meanings in the sentence: it is a very important means, but still one of the means of their formation and expression - along with by the other grammatical means mentioned above. In the morphological forms of the verb, the meanings of the mood (and tense) are concentrated and abstracted, and this gives reason to represent them as the meanings of the verb itself in the entire system of its forms. Morphological meanings of tense and mood of the verb interact with other means of expressing syntactic meanings of the same name. The verb with its own values ​​of tense and mood is included in the sentence into a wider system of means for the formation of syntactic tenses and moods and interacts with these syntactic means in a single system of expressing syntactic meanings.

Subjective modality, that is, the expression of the speaker's attitude to the reported, in contrast to the objective modality, is an optional feature of the utterance. The semantic volume of subjective modality is wider than the semantic volume of objective modality. Subjective linguistic modality includes not only the logical qualification of what is reported, but also different lexical and grammatical ways of expressing an emotional reaction. It can be:

1) members of a special lexico-grammatical class of words, as well as phrases and sentences that are functionally close to them; these members generally function as introductory units;

2) special modal particles to express uncertainty, assumption, unreliability, surprise, fear, etc.;

3) interjections;

4) special intonation to emphasize surprise, doubt, confidence, distrust, protest, irony, etc.;

5) word order, emphatic constructions;

6) special designs;

7) units of expressive vocabulary.

According to the fair remark of V.V. Vinogradov, all modal particles, words, phrases are extremely varied in their meanings and in their etymological nature. Vinogradov V.V. On the category of modality and modal words in Russian, Tr. Institute of the Russian Language of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. T.2. M.; L., 1950. In the category of subjective modality, natural language captures one of the key properties of the human psyche - the ability to oppose "I" and "non-I" within the framework of an utterance. In each particular language, modality is formed taking into account its typological features, but everywhere it reflects a complex interaction between four communication factors: the speaker, the interlocutor, the content of the utterance, and reality.

So, we can consider two types of modality: objective and subjective, but, in any case, modality is a complex interaction between the speaker, the interlocutor, the content of the statement and reality.

2. WITHways of expressing modality in Russian

2.1 Expression modality spesocial forms of inclinations

Modality is also expressed by special forms of moods. Inclination is a verbal category that expresses a certain modality of the utterance, that is, the relation of the utterance to reality established by the speaker. Traditional grammar establishes the presence of 4 moods: indicative, imperative and subjunctive and independent infinitive. However, the most commonly used method is the imperative mood.

2.1.1 Expressinclination

The indicative mood (lat. modus indicativus) expresses the presence or absence of an unconditioned (objective) action, within one time or another, as if in contemplation of the action; various attitudes of the subject to this action are not determined by him and are already transmitted by other moods.

The indicative mood has no special morphological features and is always formed from the basis of a given tense (present, past, future) by attaching the appropriate endings to it. The person expressed by this ending, like all other moods (except the imperative and the so-called indefinite mood, which is not a real mood), is understood in the nominative case. The indicative mood also sometimes has the injunctive forms.

The indicative mood expresses an action conceived by the speaker as quite real, actually taking place in time (present, past and future): the Urals serve well, have served and will serve our Motherland. The expression of modality by the indicative mood can also be carried out by combining its form with modal words and particles: as if he stepped, as if he had changed. The indicative mood differs from other moods in that it has the forms of time.

2.1.2 commandspruce inclination

Imperative mood (Latin modus imperativus; also imperative) is a form of inclination that expresses will (order, request or advice). For example: "go", "let's go", "speak".

Already in the most ancient era of the Indo-European proto-language, there was a form of the verb, which had the purpose of inducing other persons to a certain action. In Vedic Sanskrit, the imperative mood is used only in a positive sense, and only in later, classical Sanskrit does it begin to express prohibition, combined with the particle mv (Greek mu - not to, yes not ...). The same positive use of the imperative mood is found in the language of the most ancient parts of the Avesta, while in Greek its negative use is quite common. The imperative mood primarily denoted not only an order, but also a desire, a request. Thus, the appeal to the gods in the Rig Veda is constantly expressed in the forms of the imperative mood: “harness your horses, come and sit on the sacrificial bed, drink the sacrificial drink, hear our prayer, give us treasures, help in the battle,” etc. Usually the imperative mood expresses the expectation of an immediate onset, action, but sometimes it also means an action that should occur only after the end of another.

The imperative mood expresses the will of the speaker - a request, an order or an inducement to perform the action indicated by the verb, and is characterized by a special imperative intonation: Hearty friend, desired friend, come, come: I am your husband! (P.). The main meaning of the imperative mood - the motivation to perform an action - usually refers to the interlocutor, so the main form of this mood is the form of the 2nd person singular or plural.

The imperative form is formed from the basis of the present tense and has the following three varieties:

With a final -y after vowels (pure stem): build, come on, don't spit;

With the ending -and after consonants: carry, shear, repeat;

With a final soft consonant, as well as with a hard w and w (pure stem): leave, save, provide, smear, eat.

2.1.3 exileinclination

The subjunctive mood (subjunctive, subjunctive, lat. modus conjunctivus or subjunctivus) is a number of special forms of the verbal mood of most Indo-European languages, expressing through a subjective relation a possible, conjectural, desirable or described action.

The subjunctive mood that exists in the Indo-European languages ​​dates back to the common Indo-European era and was already characteristic of the Indo-European parent language. Not all, however, the forms known under the name of the subjunctive mood go back to the ancient original Indo-European forms of the subjunctive mood; many of them are various kinds of neoplasms, only having the functions of the subjunctive mood.

In its meaning, the subjunctive mood is close to the moods of the desirable, the imperative and the indicative of the future tense. It differs from the desirable in that it denotes the will, often the demand of the speaker, while the desirable expresses only his desire. The subjunctive differs from the imperative mood in that it expresses an intention, the implementation of which is dependent on certain certain circumstances, and from the indicative mood of the future tense, in that it means mainly the intention, the will of the speaker, while the indicative mood of the future tense expresses mainly the foresight of the action. However, sometimes the subjunctive mood has the meaning of the indicative mood of the future tense. Accordingly, two types of subjunctive mood are distinguished: the subjunctive mood of will or desire (Conjunctivus volitivus) and the subjunctive mood of foresight (Conjunctivus prospectivus). The first, apparently, like the imperative mood, was primarily used only in positive sentences. The subjunctive is also used to ask about something that is about to happen. An example of the subjunctive mood of desire, will: lat. hoc quod coepi primum enarrem (Terentius: "First I want to tell you what I did"); sample of the prospective subjunctive (with the meaning of the future tense): Skt. uv soshv uchv c sa n u - “the dawn has appeared and will appear now” (R. V. I, 48,3); Greek kbya rpfe fyt erzuy - "and if anyone ever says", etc.

2.1.4 independentiminfinitive

An independent infinitive is an infinitive without the function of a subject or predicate of a two-part sentence and in the function of the main member of a one-part (infinitive) sentence, an infinitive that does not depend on other members of the sentence. Smoking is prohibited. Thrush - grieve, thrush - yearn. Be a bull on a string.

The verbs drink, beat, pour, twist form the forms of drink, beat, lei, wei; the verb lie has an imperative form lie down, lie down, and the verb eat - eat, eat; with the verb food, imperative forms are used go - go. The imperative form of the 2nd person plural is formed by adding the affix -te to the singular form: build, carry, leave. Reflexive verbs attach to the indicated formations of the imperative form the affixes -sya (after the consonant and -th) and -s (after -i and -te): do not be stubborn, build, cut your hair, cut your hair.

In addition to the basic form of the 2nd person singular and plural, the imperative mood has forms that express the action of the 3rd person and the 1st person of the plural. Forms of the 3rd person are expressed (analytically) by a combination of particles let, let, yes, with the form of the 3rd person singular and plural of the present tense and the future simple: Let the face burn like the dawn in the morning (Kolts.); Let him serve and pull the strap (P.); Long live the Muses, long live the mind! (P.).

The 1st person plural of the imperative mood is expressed by the form of the 1st person plural of the present tense or, more often, the future simple, pronounced with a special intonation of the invitation: Let's start, perhaps (P.). The addition of the affix -te to this form expresses an appeal to many people or gives the statement a touch of politeness: You, my brothers, blood friends, kiss and hug for the last parting (L.).

Some verbs, for semantic reasons, do not form the imperative form of the 2nd person, for example, impersonal verbs, individual verbs with the meaning of perception (see, hear), with the meaning of state (rot, be unwell).

2.2 Expression of modalityand modal words

2.2.1 Wvothese adverbs

The peculiar position of modal words among other grammatical categories has been noted in Russian language manuals since the beginning of the 19th century. But it is impossible to find a clear grammatical description of this type of words there. Modal words did not stand out as an independent category for a long time. They mixed with adverbs. It `s naturally. Not without reason in Slavic-Russian grammars until the end of the 17th century. even interjections were included in the class of adverbs. The category of adverbs from time immemorial has been a dumping ground for all so-called "invariable" words. However, there were other, closer historical reasons for referring modal words to adverbs: many modal words were formed from adverbs. The grammatical originality of modal words has long been striking. But shackled by the theory of ancient grammar, Russian linguists of the XIX century. considered them as part of adverbs as a special category. So, Vostokov calls modal words adverbs, "defining the authenticity of the action and state." Mixing them with adverbs and particles, he distinguishes five groups of "adverbs" with modal connotations.

"1. Interrogative; really, really, really.

2. Affirmative: truly, truly, in fact, really, etc.

3. Conjectural: maybe, maybe, in no way, hardly, almost, hardly, etc.

4. Negative: no, no.

5. Restrictive: only, only, only, only" (2).

N.I. Grech also identified in a special category "adverbs that define the property and image of being, the existence of an object, namely:

a) with the statement: truly, truly, indisputably, precisely, without fail;

b) with an indication of the possibility: maybe, maybe, probably, almost, hardly, hardly, etc .;

c) with negation: not, not at all, not at all, not at all;

d) with the expression of the question: is it really?

2.2.2 Fashionverbs

Modal verbs are those verbs that express not an action or a state, but the relation of a person, indicated by a pronoun or a noun, which carries the function of the subject in the sentence, to the action or state expressed by the infinitive. A modal verb combined with an infinitive forms a compound verb predicate in a sentence. Modal verbs express the meaning of possibility, necessity, probability, desirability, etc.

Dictionary interpretations of the main modal verbs of the Russian language:

CAN, can, can, can; could, could; powerful; mogi (in some combinations; colloquial version); nesov., with neopr. To be able, to be able (to do something). We can help. Can not understand. Can study well. It can't be, because it can never be (joking form).*

Maybe or maybe -

1) as an introductory word, as one might think, perhaps. He will return, perhaps, only in the evening;

2) an expression of uncertain confirmation, probably, apparently. He will come? - May be. I can't know (obsolete colloquial) - a polite official answer in the meaning. I don’t know, I don’t know (usually in the military). Can't be! - an exclamation expressing surprise and distrust, doubt about something. We saw a snowman. - Can't be! Don't beg! (obsolete and colloquial) - do not do, do not try to do something. You can’t offend the weak (aphorism). You couldn't even squeak in front of the boss. And you can't think! (strict ban). How can you live? (colloquial) - how are you, how are you? Through I can’t (do, do something) (colloquial) - overcoming impossibility, lack of strength. || owls. can, can, can, can; could, could; smog.

MUST, -zhna, -zhno, in the meaning. skaz.

1) with unspecified Obliged to do something. Must obey orders.

2) with unspecified About what will certainly happen, inevitably or presumably. He d. to come soon. Something important must happen.

3) to whom. Borrowed, obligated to repay the debt

4) He owes me a hundred rubles. * Must be introductory. sl. - probably, in all likelihood.

SHOULD (-your, -your, 1 and 2 liters. not used.), -your, -your; nesov. (book). To be due, to follow (in 5 meanings). You must agree. Take appropriate action. || noun obligation, -i, cf.

WANT, want, want, want, want, want, want; pov. (colloquial) hoti; nesov.

1. someone-something, someone (with specific noun, colloquial), with neodef. or with the union "to". To have a desire, intention (to do something), to feel the need for someone to do something. H. help (to help). H. tea. H. is. Do you want candy? Call anyone you want (anyone) There is everything you want (anything).

2. someone-something and with the union "to". To strive for something, to achieve something, to achieve something. H. peace. X. understanding from the interlocutor. Wants everything to be okay. * If you want (you want), enter, eat. - perhaps, of course. He, you know, is right. As you wish (want) -

a) as you (you) want;

b) enter, ate, with an objection: but still, in spite of everything. You do what you want, but I do not agree. Whether you like it or not (colloquial) - involuntarily you have to. Like it or not, you go. Through I don’t want (colloquial) - overcoming reluctance. Eat (drink, take, etc.) - I don’t want (colloquial) - in combination with the form of pov. incl. means unlimited ability to do something, freedom of action.

Thus, modal verbs are verbs meaning desire, intention, the ability of the agent to carry out an action: want, be able, desire, assume, intend, strive, decide, succeed, etc. They are often used in the structure of a compound verb predicate.

3. Modal words in the workAND.ABOUTdoevtseva"Non the banksHeve»

modality Odoevtseva Russian language

Analyzing modal words in I. Odoevtseva's work "On the Banks of the Neva" and systematizing them, in this work we will use the classification of modal words proposed by such linguists as V.V. Babaitseva, N.M. Shansky, A.N. Tikhonov, P.P. Fur coat. Thus, we will divide all modal words into the following categories according to the modality value they express:

1) modality of reliability, confidence, conviction;

2) the modality of uncertainty, assumption, probability, or impossibility of what is being reported;

3) modality expressing an emotional attitude to the phenomena of reality;

4) modal words characterizing the form of the statement or its relation to another person.

We have analyzed a fragment of the text "On the banks of the Neva" from 09 to 114 pages inclusive.

In this passage of the text, only 89 modal words were identified. Here's a complete list of them:

I) Sentences that include modal words expressing the degree of certainty, confidence, conviction:

"My memory is really wonderful";

"I understand that this is about him, of course, Akhmatova wrote about him ...";

"No, really, it all looked more like a suicide";

"I entered, of course, the literary department";

"Of course, he failed to draw Timofeev on the" charter of the ages ";

"Naturally, Gumilyov cannot even guess what talents are among us";

"The handwriting is really beautiful";

"I rode horseback from early childhood, but, of course, I had no idea about driving a car";

"Of course, I didn't go to Gumilyov's lectures";

"Vsevolodsky even asked me and another successful dalcrozist if we agreed to go to Switzerland for a year to dalcroze - of course, at public expense";

"Of course, it was a purely rhetorical question - no one from the Living Word was sent to Dalcroze";

"Of course, we were poets, not students";

"On that day, of course, very weak verses were also read, but Gumilyov refrained from ridicule and murderous sentences";

"And I, of course, chose the studio";

"Of course, and I've been hungry";

"Indeed, the 'Lozin's eye' always noticed something";

"Have you heard, of course?";

"But Mayakovsky, of course, did not hear";

"Of course, I was not his friend";

"And now, indeed, waiting for the opportunity";

"But, of course, many imitations were devoid of comedy and did not serve as a reason for the fun of Gumilyov and his students";

"Of course, come! I'm terribly glad";

"But, of course, sometimes this presentiment deceives";

"He was joking, of course";

"Of course he laughs at me";

"All this, of course, is pure fantasy, and I wonder how Otsup, who knew Gumilyov well, could create such an implausible theory";

"But he was, of course, very smart, with some sometimes even brilliant glimpses and, this also cannot be hidden, with failures and misunderstandings of the most ordinary things and concepts";

"I, of course, arrogantly dream about it";

"Of course, this could only be a pose on the part of Gumilyov, but Mandelstam winked at me mockingly and said, when we were left alone...";

"True, the well-known fact of the translation of "Cat Mine" does not testify to this";

"It is not clear how he could confuse Chat Minet with the Orthodox Cheti-Minei, which, of course, the French Catholic woman could not read in any way";

"Of course, if I had said:" Please give me borscht, a cutlet and a cake, "he would not have shown displeasure";

"Neither I, nor he, of course, and Larisa Reisner herself had the idea that such a" glorification "could have ended tragically for me";

"And this, of course, could not please the majority of Petersburg poets";

"And, of course, love";

"At the top, having learned about the existence of a clearly counter-revolutionary "elegant poetess", slandering representatives of the Red Army, they could, of course, become interested in her ... ";

"But, indeed, from the evening of May 3, I became known in the literary - and not only literary - circles of St. Petersburg";

"Of course. I often feel it. Especially on full moon nights";

"No, of course not";

II) Sentences that include modal words expressing the meaning of uncertainty, conjecture, probability, or impossibility of what is being reported:

"They all soon fell away and, having probably not received what they were looking for in The Living Word, they switched to other courses";

"Maybe more, maybe less";

"He doesn't even seem to blink";

"Maybe someone can ask me a question?";

"My old dream came true - to form not only real readers, but maybe even real poets";

"He, at the first acquaintance with me, wanting, probably, to force me to take up work more energetically, told me ...";

“Yes, it seems that I have come to terms with the fact that poetry is not over, that I have turned from poets into a “salon poetess”;

"He, really, is not worse than mine";

"A blank wall of indifference and, perhaps, even hostility has again risen between him and us";

"It must have lasted only a moment, but it seemed to me that it was a very long time";

"You seem to live at the end of Basseynaya?";

"You must not be very nervous and not very sensitive";

"Even more ignorant than a carp, apparently, I don't understand anything";

"And you must have had a most amusing look";

"I really must have been ugly then - too thin and clumsy";

"None of them, apparently, discovered what a canander is";

"Not only in his youth, but even now, it seems, Nikolai Stepanovich, - I remark mockingly";

"They must have gotten rid of their own";

"This rumor may have reached ears that were not intended for them at all";

"I must have really felt";

"Maybe he really didn't notice";

"But maybe it's a masculine trait in me?";

"But he seems to understand";

"But, apparently, Bely spent too much eloquence on me";

"He must be ashamed of me";

"Probably wants to see and remember the" Gumilyov's student "in all details";

"He, apparently, is tired of being silent for a long time...";

"You don't seem to be aware of what happened";

"Maybe he has not only horns, but also hooves?";

"Must be all the other three hundred and sixty-four like him";

"Perhaps not like lakes, but like ponds in which frogs, newts and snakes are found";

"You and I are probably the only ones who today, on his birthday, will pray for him";

"It must be, judging by the joyful and respectful "Thank you!" of the priest, he paid very well for the memorial service";

"I think I really drank too much buza and the hops went to my head";

III) Sentences, which include modal words expressing an emotional attitude to the phenomena of reality:

"Unfortunately, time in Spain flies like an arrow";

"A woman, unfortunately, is always a woman, no matter how talented she is!";

"But, unfortunately, Ada Onoshkovich hardly became aware that Mayakovsky, Mayakovsky himself, liked her poems";

"Fortunately, they were not all in the same class as me, and it was not difficult for me to avoid them";

IV) Sentences that include modal words that characterize the form of the statement or its reference to another person:

"However, in my opinion, there is nothing amazing in this";

"However, it doesn't matter";

"However, through his own, and not through his fault";

"Of my poems, they, however, and I myself, especially liked one";

"He carried himself, however, just as importantly, solemnly and self-confidently";

"However, not quite suitable for a poet, perhaps";

"However, you, comrade, do not need to be afraid";

"However, from the students, unlike the painters, many went out into people, and even into great people";

"However, they laughed very good-naturedly, harmlessly and cheerfully";

Analyzing the text of I. Odoevtseva's work "On the Banks of the Neva", we identified modal words expressing the subjective attitude of the speaker, his assessment of any fact or event, as well as the reliability, reality, unreliability, presumption of the reported. The given examples can serve as an illustration of the expression by modal words of the reliability / unreliability of the reported, as well as the relationship of the speaker to the reported.

In the text of this work, modal words are found everywhere. The frequency of use of individual modal words is shown in the table (ORPAL Appendix).

Based on the above data, we see that modal words with the meaning of reliability, confidence, conviction are most often used. With the help of these words, the author expresses the degree of his confidence in what he is talking about. For example, in the sentence: "We, of course, belonged to the poets, not to the students" - the author expresses his confidence in relation to his belonging to the students.

With the help of other modal words, a subjective attitude to a certain object, action, phenomenon is expressed. For example, in the sentence: "My memory is really excellent" - the author gives an assessment of his memory from his own point of view and this makes the reader believe in the possibilities of this very memory. The meaning of confirming a fact is also expressed by this word, for example: "Indeed," Lozinsky's eye "always noticed something" - the author only confirms someone's opinion.

There are also sentences with an indisputable statement in the text. So, for example: "But he was, of course, very smart, with some sometimes even brilliant glimpses and, this also cannot be hidden, with failures and misunderstandings of the most ordinary things and concepts" - the sentence expresses the absence of doubts about the reality and reliability of the reported , carries the truth and reliability of knowledge. The modal word "unconditionally" has an amplifying character.

In a sentence:

In the sentence: "Of course, this could only be a pose on the part of Gumilyov, but Mandelstam winked at me mockingly and said, when we were alone ..." - the reliability of the assumption itself is expressed precisely thanks to the modal word "of course".

The meaning of fear is expressed by using the word "of course" in the sentence: "Of course he laughs at me." The meaning of hope sounds in the sentence: "Evaluate them and, of course, me, their author" - I. Odoevtseva hopes that she will be appreciated.

Having considered the meanings of modal words, we can say that they express a high degree of certainty, truth, and refer to categorical certainty. The author uses these modal words in the context where he is completely sure of the truth of his judgment.

No less common are modal words in the text with the meaning of uncertainty, assumption, probability, or even the impossibility of what is being reported. So in the sentence: “They all soon disappeared and, having probably not received what they were looking for in the Living Word, they switched to other courses” - the degree of probability of not receiving “what they were looking for” is expressed precisely thanks to the introductory construction "should be".

This construction can also express the meaning of the assumption. For example:

“At the very first meeting with me, wanting, probably, to force me to get down to work more energetically, he told me ...” - the author only suggests, but does not confirm the very purpose of Gumilyov's words.

The meaning of the uncertainty of what is being narrated is expressed using the modal word "seems". For example: "He doesn't even seem to blink" - the author only assumes, but there is no certainty in the statement.

The meaning of the likelihood or desirability of what is being discussed can be expressed using the modal word "maybe". For example: "My old dream came true - to form not only real readers, but maybe even real poets" - here the author expresses his desire to form real poets, but there is a hint of uncertainty about the possibility of this.

The meaning of the assumption contains the modal word “perhaps”: “A blank wall of indifference and, perhaps, even hostility has again risen between him and us” - is intensifying.

Uncertainty about what is being reported is expressed with the words "probably, apparently, it should": "And you probably had a very funny look" - the connotation of the assumption is not affirmative and can easily be challenged.

In the sentence: "Perhaps he really did not notice" - the modal word "perhaps" has the meaning of uncertainty in the fact itself, the author only assumes, but does not assert.

Thus, the modal words of this group serve to express the assumption, uncertainty, and probability of the statement. For greater truth of the statement, the author refers to the probability of what he is talking about. Uncertainty in this or that event is expressed precisely with the help of such modal words.

Rarely found in the text of the work are modal words expressing an emotional attitude to the phenomena of reality. This group of modal words is mainly represented by only two constructions: fortunately, unfortunately. With the help of these words, an emotional attitude to the statement is expressed: either a feeling of joy or grief. For example: "Unfortunately, time in Spain flies like an arrow" - the author regrets the transience of time, expressing this with the help of the introductory construction "unfortunately".

And in the sentence: "Fortunately, they were not all in the same class as me, and it was not difficult for me to avoid them" - with the help of the construction "fortunately" the author's feeling of joy is expressed about the stated fact.

The fourth group of modal words characterizing the form of the statement or its relation to another person is represented in the text mainly by only one type of modal word: "however" - a modal word of a logical nature. It acts as a means of supplementing and generalizing information, for example: "However, they laughed very good-naturedly, harmlessly and cheerfully" - the author adds that despite the fact that they laughed, their laughter was completely harmless.

The meaning of the clarification sounds in the sentence: "From my poems, they, however, and I myself, especially liked one" - here the author, as it were, expresses his opinion and clarifies his attitude to this with the help of the modal word "however".

The meaning of unimportance, optionality can also be expressed using this word, for example: "However, it does not matter" - telling about the facts of reality, the author concludes that this is no longer so important.

The modal word "in my opinion" is an indicator of authorization, linking the reliability of information with its source. For example: "However, in my opinion, there is nothing amazing in this" - the author indicates that this is precisely her subjective opinion using the modal word "in my opinion."

Having traced the dynamics and frequency of the use of modal words, we found that modal words in the work of I. Odoevtseva are most often found in contexts where the author expresses his thoughts, opinion on a particular issue, i.e. in internal monologues-reasonings, and also in dialogue

between heroes. This reveals the movement and direction of the author's thought, the internal struggle. Categorically affirmative judgments are reinforced with the help of modal words of affirmation, reliability, conviction. Uncertainty, doubts of the author are expressed and emphasized with the help of modal words assumption, probability, impossibility. The emotional state is conveyed using modal words such as "fortunately, unfortunately." Modal words reinforce the meaning of the statement, serve as a means of expressing authenticity/unreliability, assumptions/convictions, make the speech more emotionally expressed, closer to life, more intense. With the help of modal words, the author not only expresses his opinion, but also influences the opinion of the reader.

The author creates any work (fiction, journalistic), using a personal vision of the world, all the diversity of his language and culture, to influence the reader. This is where the use of modal words helps him. The reader can evaluate the statement in different ways: what is being said can be presented either as something real, or as necessary - one that must necessarily take place.

It should be noted that the gender aspect has a great influence on the frequency of the use of certain modal words, because the author of the work "On the banks of the Neva" is directly a woman. Gender identity determines the appearance in the work of specific themes, plots, images of heroes, determines the originality of the psychological analysis and speech characteristics of the characters and the author's speech. "Woman speaking" becomes not only the object of the image, but also the subject of speech, the bearer of her voice in the world, the narrator of her misfortune and fate. It is the female vision of the world that is characterized by an internal dialogue with oneself, uncertainty, doubts, understatement, inconsistency and sometimes absurdity. All this is manifested with the help of modal words in the text of the work by I. Odoevtseva.

Wconclusion

In accordance with the goals and objectives of our study, we considered: modality, its types, and also determined the means of expressing the reliability / unreliability of the reported. Thus, modal words, although they constitute a quantitatively insignificant group, have such peculiarities that they cannot be attributed without exaggeration to any of the parts of speech recognized since ancient times and should be recognized as a special category, different from other significant parts of speech, because they are not serve as members of a sentence and do not combine grammatically with the words that make up the sentence.

Disagreements in the characterization of modal words in the works of various linguists are mainly explained by the fact that modal words, as a special part of speech, have not yet been sufficiently studied. The semantic and syntactic nature of modal words, the ways of transition of forms of different types of words into modal words need to be carefully studied.

We took into account the differentiation of modality into objective and subjective. In addition to the obligatory objective-modal meaning for each sentence, a specific sentence can carry an additional subjective-modal meaning, which "forms the concept of evaluation, including not only the logical (intellectual, rational) qualification of the reported, but also different types of emotional reaction." Also, as the basis for this course work, we took the classification of modal words proposed by such linguists as V.V. Babaitseva, N.M. Shansky, A.N. Tikhonov, P.P. Fur coat. In our opinion, it is this classification of modal words that most accurately reflects their lexical and semantic features.

Subjective modality prevails in I. Odoetseva's work "On the Banks of the Neva", since the text of this work contains the opinion, thoughts, and memories of the author himself. The most frequent use of modal words in the work was recorded by us in contexts with internal reasoning monologues and interpersonal dialogues. It is in these cases that the degree of confidence or uncertainty is expressed in what the author himself narrates. Modal words emphasize the degree of reliability/unreliability of the statement and thus allow influencing the reader, convincing him of something or, conversely, denying the very fact of the possibility of this phenomenon. I. Odoevtseva expresses her personal attitude to this or that phenomenon, the subject of reality with the help of modal words. An important role in this is played by the gender aspect: women's vision and perception of the world around them, assessment of this or that situation, attitude to the phenomena of reality determines the special warehouse of the language of the work, its emotionality, saturation with modal words of subjective assessment.

So, we can conclude, based on research on this problem, that in any segment of speech one can observe the use of various means of modality. At the same time, the differences in the ways of expressing this category are partly related to internal differences in its very syntactic-semantic functions, in its functional-semantic essence. The facts of reality and their connections, being the content of the statement, can be thought of by the speaker as reality and certainty, as a possibility or desirability, as an obligation or necessity.

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