ABOUT THIS BOOK

With a focus on Spanish modality, this book presents Bohumil Zavadil’s theoretical approach—the first such presentation in English—to this category and, consequently, analyzes its possible application to Spanish. Concentrating on specific areas of the Spanish modal system where two modal meanings combine, Dana Kratochvílová integrates theoretical analyses with corpus-based studies from the InterCorp corpus on the choice of mood and the contextual interpretation of selected constructions. Her approachs verifies that areas where two modal meanings meet are a natural part of the Spanish modal system and that the combination of modal meanings has consequences on mood selection, thus shedding new light on the use of the subjunctive in Spanish.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Dana Kratochvílová currently works in the Department of Romance Studies at Charles University, Prague. Her research focuses on morphosyntax and cognitive linguistics with special reference to Spanish.

REVIEWS

“Kratochvílová’s monograph is an excellent, original, and rigorous, yet at the same time clear, study, which will undoubtedly fill a gap in the bibliography on modality in Spanish.”

— Tomás Jiménez Juliá, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Contents

List of abbreviations

Acknowledgments

Preface

1. Introduction

1.1.1 Modality in logic and formal semantics

1.1.2 Modality in Cognitive linguistics

1.1.3 Modality from a cross-linguistic perspective and universal concepts

1.2 Zavadil’s approach to modality

1.2.1 Description of Zavadil’s concept

1.2.2 Verbal moods according to Zavadil

1.2.3 Syntactic levels at which modality can be expressed

1.2.4 Summary of Zavadil’s approach to Spanish modality

1.3.1 Suprasegmental features

1.3.3 Lexical features

1.4.2 Syntactic levels

1.4.4 Methodology

2. Modal meaning real → modal meaning potential

2.2 Criteria to find the position of an utterance on the axis

2.2.1 Determination of R – the selection of lexical expression of reality

2.2.2 Determination of p – the selection of lexical expression of potentiality

2.2.3 Determination of m – mood selection after a lexical expression of MMP

2.3.1 Adverbs expressing potentiality and non-personal expressions parece que, puede ser que, es posible que, es probable que

2.3.1.1.1 Quizá(s), tal vez, probablemente, posiblemente, acaso, seguramente, a lo mejor, que, puede ser que

2.3.1.1.2 Ser posible que, ser probable que

2.3.2 Verbs expressing potentiality

2.3.2.1 LPs allowing the subjunctive in affirmative form

2.3.2.1.1 Corpus analysis

2.3.2.2.1 Corpus analysis

2.3.2.2.1.1 No estoy seguro/-a de que, no digo / estoy diciendo que, no creo que, no me parece que

2.3.2.2.1.2 (Yo) no sabía que

2.3.2.2.1.3 Dudo (de) que, no dudo (de) que

2.4 Representations of utterances with MMR and MMP on the axis

2.5 Conclusion

3. Modal meaning potential → modal meaning evaluative

3.1 Esperar

3.1.1 Corpus analysis

3.2 Temer(se)

3.2.1 Corpus analysis

3.3 Conclusion

4. Modal meaning evaluative → modal meaning volitive

4.1 LVs according to the level of e

4.2 Conclusion

5. Modal meaning volitive → modal meaning interrogative

5.1 Questions introduced by poder

5.1.1 Corpus analysis

5.1.2 Corpus analysis n. 2

5.2 Conclusion

6. Modal meaning interrogative → modal meaning potential

6.1 Interrogative constructions with probabilitive

6.1.1 Corpus analysis

6.2 Conclusion

7. Modal meaning potential → modal meaning volitive

7.1 Spanish modal verbs

7.2 Relationship between will and potentiality

7.3 Conclusion

8. Conclusion

8.1.1 Scalar realization

8.1.2 Confluence of MMs

8.2 Summary

Bibliography

Appendix 1

Appendix 2