[Lingtyp] 回复: Moods and non-finites?

[Lixin Jin]

I have limited research experience in the field of Modality, but I would appreciate some clarification on a particular question. How do scholars determine the concept of "root modality"? Why is it referred to as "root modality"? Is it based on syntactic structure (with root modality occurring in the inner layers of syntax), semantic function, or its temporal appearance?
I would greatly appreciate the insights and expertise of those knowledgeable in this field. Your guidance would be sincerely appreciated.

Lixin

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发件人: Lingtyp <lingtyp-bounces at listserv.linguistlist.org> 代表 Christian Lehmann <christian.lehmann at uni-erfurt.de>
发送时间: 2023年7月14日 9:17
收件人: lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org <lingtyp at listserv.linguistlist.org>
主题: Re: [Lingtyp] Moods and non-finites?

Dear Jussi,

interesting question, and complicated because it is both an empirical question and relates to the definition of 'mood'. Since this is a grammatical concept, it is of necessity hybrid, i.e. it comprises structural and functional criteria. Both sets should be homogeneous in order to create a unified concept.

As for structural criteria, you might define 'mood' in such a way that whatever is marked on non-finite verb forms is not a mood. It may then turn out that you used a structural criterion which lacks a straightforward functional correlate; i.o.w., that you delimited the concept in an arbitrary way.

If, on the other hand, your research interest is about mood phenomenology, you may start with a concept that is rather liberal on the structural side. But then you have to operationalize the functional criteria composing your concept in such a way that you can recognize a mood wherever it occurs, even in a non-finite verb form. If the functional criteria composing the concept of mood lack a common denominator, you can expect to also find heterogeneity on the structural side. 'Mood' is such a concept whose functional side is not unified. (Think of the various subdivisions of 'subjective' vs. 'objective mood' etc.)

This being said, another morphological category which is functionally a mood and structurally coded on non-finite verbs is the Latin gerundive (distinct from the gerund). It is only found in verbal adjectives and - in many, though not all of its uses - conveys debitive mood.

A potentially fruitful approach might therefore be: Classify moods found in languages by the structural criterion of their morphological locus and then look, in a semasiological perspective, what these morphological categories express. If you are lucky, it may turn out that only a subset of moods is coded on non-finite verbs and that there is a common functional denominator for this subset.

Best,
Christian
--

Prof. em. Dr. Christian Lehmann
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