Mood and Modality (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) [Paperback]

F. R. Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0521319307 | ISBN-13: 978-0521319300

'Mood' (subjunctive, etc.) and 'modality' (can, may, must, etc.) are familiar terms in linguistics, but this is the first book to present a systematic and principled description, across a wide variety of languages, of what can be considered a single grammatical category. The notion of modality is notoriously vague and a number of definitions have been proposed, encompassing the attitude or opinion of the speaker, speech acts, subjectivity, non-factivity, non-assertion, possibility and necessity. Often such definitions have been language-specific. By examining data (including data on evidentials) from many different languages - native American and Australian languages, for example, as well as Latin, Greek, English and others - F. R. Palmer is able to compare and contrast the ways in which modality is grammaticalized, its various functions, and its relation to other grammatical categories. From this typological approach arise cross-linguistic generalisations and theoretical conclusions that will interest the specialist as much as the advanced student. Written with F. R. Palmer's characteristic clarity and attention to detail, Mood and modality is a major contribution to our understanding of a basic topic in language studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'These are complex areas ... and as a basic guide to the problems and the terminology in the field this is a valuable book.' Raphael Salkie, MLR --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

Since the publication of F. R. Palmer's Mood and Modality in 1986, when the topic of 'modality' was fairly unfamiliar, there has been considerable interest in the subject as well as in grammatical typology in general. Modality is concerned with mood (subjunctive etc.) and with modal markers such as English modal verbs (can, may, must etc.) and is treated as a single grammatical category found in most of the languages of the world. Palmer investigates this category, drawing on a wealth of examples from a wide variety of languages. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 28, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521319307
• ISBN-13: 978-0521319300
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,648,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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