2010. Some observations on the meaning of modals.

Ilse Depraetere (1)

1 STL - Savoirs, Textes, Langage (STL) - UMR 8163

This paper highlights a range of facets of meaning of modals that are determined in context, all of which have to be addressed in a model of meaning if it is to be explanatorily adequate. A sketch is drawn of a such a model that differentiates three levels of meaning: context-independent meaning, context-dependent semantics and pragmatic meaning.

Mots clés: English modals; semantics/pragmatics interface

Domaines: Linguistique

Ilse Depraetere. 2010. Some observations on the meaning of modals.. Cappelle, Bert and Naoaki Wada (eds). Distinctions in English grammar, offered to Renaat Declerck., Tokyo: Kaitakusha., pp.72-91., 2010. ⟨halshs-00849480⟩