Analyzing [m] as a Modal Element in Laki

"Mood" or "modality" is one of the linguistic tools for conveying concepts such as necessity, obligation, probability, commitment, and assumption in language. Since a complete description of an event or state is not possible solely through the use of verbs or nominal groups, modality is a desirable solution in all human languages to convey concepts. Understanding the types of mood is an opening for discovering the capabilities of human language. The present study is the first theory-based study on modality in Laki, which addresses the modal aspects of the [m@] element within the framework of Palmer's (2001) views. This word, in addition to its lexical meaning of “to want”, also has a modal nature and can be assigned as a modal auxiliary verb. The research was conducted using a descriptive–analytical method. Linguistic data were collected through the author's linguistic intuition and compared with their equivalents in Persian, Kurdish and English. After identifying [m@] as a modal auxiliary verb in Laki, its modality types were determined based on Palmer's (2001) framework. Finally, in order to better understand its roles, the syntactic positions of its different roles in sentences were determined. Based on some evidences like: equivalence of [m@] with modal auxiliary verbs in Persian and English, the traditional non-inflectability criterion of modals, and etc. [m@] can be considered as a modal auxiliary verb in Laki. Because of different applications of modals, this term has various roles, including a lexical role as a verbal element “to want”, a semantic role for expressing concepts of necessity and obligation, as well as a syntactic one for indicating future tense. Analyzing [m@] in Laki demonstrated that this element is a modal auxiliary verb, in addition to its lexical meaning “to want”. It is also a syntactic tool for representing the future tense; and its modality changes when pronounced differently in specific contexts.
Introduction
Modality, or modal expression, is one of the linguistic tools for conveying concepts such as necessity, obligation, probability, commitment, and assumption in language. A complete description of an event or state is not possible solely through the use of verbs or nominal groups, and the interpretation of sentences with modal elements is fundamentally different from those without them. Modal expression is a desirable solution in all human languages for accurately conveying concepts. Studies show that modal elements in some languages only have a syntactic role, while in others, they only express semantic roles, and in another group of languages, they take on both syntactic and semantic roles. Therefore, due to the intertwining of these two roles, they cannot be simply classified as either semantic or syntactic, and today, most researchers in this field, including Palmer, Hacquard, Cinque, Kratzer, Portner, and Saeed, consider modal elements to be syntactic–semantic. Understanding the various types of modality illuminates more capabilities of human language, and linguistic research, in addition to documenting and preserving local languages, serves as a touchstone for evaluating and consolidating existing linguistic theories.
As of the writing of this article, no theory-based research has been conducted on modality in Laki. Nevertheless, considering the genetic relationship between Persian, Kurdish, and Laki, and the possibility of structural similarities among them, modality in Laki remains a viable area of research.
The present study is the first theory-based research on modality in Laki, which analyzes modality of the element [m@] based on the framework of Palmer's (2001) view. Palmer (2001) provided a general classification of modalities. He believed that modal expressions are syntactic–semantic and conceptualized modal concepts in interaction with semantic propositions. In the first step, he distinguished between two general types of modality: propositional modality and event modality. Propositional modality pertains to the speaker's attitude toward the truth value of the related proposition and includes epistemic and evidential modality. Event modality, on the other hand, relates to events that are not yet real and have not yet occurred but are probable. This type includes deontic (obligatory) and dynamic modality. In this classification, each type of modality has subtypes that enable us to describe linguistic propositions precisely.
Amouzadeh and Rezaei (2012) argue that in Persian, some syntactic elements such as tense also have a modal role, too. Rahimian and Amouzadeh (2013) consider Palmer's (1990) views valid for explaining and classifying modality by examining examples of modal verbs in Persian. Moradi (2012) has also identified modal auxiliary verbs in Sorani Kurdish based on Palmer's (1990) framework. Labafan Khosh and Darzi (2013) have determined the syntactic position of auxiliary verbs of possibility and necessity in Persian. Naghzgoy Kohan and Naghshbandi (2014) have identified the modal verbs in Horami based on Palmer's (1990) and (2001) frameworks. Rahimian (2011) considers modal auxiliary verbs in Persian include "bāyad" (must), "shayad" (become), "tavānestan" (can), and "khāstan" (want). Mirzaee (2020) considers modality and polarity to have common capabilities for expressing modal concepts. Mirza Beigi and colleagues (2019) have listed fifteen different modal states for modality in Kurdish Khezeli. Eilkhani Pour (2015) also considers modality to be subject to examination with the help of syntactic, semantic, and pragmatics.
Methods
The research was conducted using a descriptive–analytical method. Linguistic data were collected through the author's linguistic intuition and compared with their equivalents in Persian, Kurdish and English. After identifying [m@] as a modal auxiliary verb in Laki, its modality types were determined based on Palmer's (2001) framework. Finally, in order to better understand its roles, the syntactic positions of its different roles in sentences were determined.
Results
By presenting evidences, including: (a) equivalence of [m@] with modal auxiliary verbs in Persian and English, (b) traditional criterion of the non-inflectability of modal words, (c) quadruple characteristics of modal verbs in Persian, and (d) the commuting terms feature of modal auxiliary verbs, [m@] can be considered as a modal auxiliary verb in Laki. Since modal elements have different applications, this term has various roles depending on context, including a lexical role as a verbal element “to want”, a semantic role for expressing concepts of necessity and obligation, as well as a syntactic tool for indicating future tense.
Conclusion
Analyzing [m@] in Laki showed that this term, in addition to its lexical meaning "to want", also functions as a modal auxiliary verb. Furthermore, [m@] is a syntactic tool in representing the future tense in Laki. Additionally, the modality of this verb changes when pronounced differently in specific contexts; for instance, in contexts with deontic or obligatory modality, its modality shifts from obligatory to dynamic by changing its stress and emphasis.
Then, based on the principles of universal hierarchy of projections by Cinque (1999), the syntactic positions of this element have been determined, and its semantic differences have been identified due to the presence of various syntactic positions. Specifically, when [m@] is positioned lower than the little verb, it means as a lexical verb, in root and volitive projections place, beside the syntactic role of tense, it expresses concepts of necessity and obligation, respectively.
Ethical Considerations
Not applicable
Funding
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Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.