37.412, Books: The Realis-Irrealis Distinction, Events, Propositions and Speech Acts: Nordström (2026)

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LINGUIST List: Vol-37-412. Thu Jan 29 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.412, Books: The Realis-Irrealis Distinction, Events, Propositions and Speech Acts: Nordström (2026)

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Date: 26-Jan-2026
From: Ulrich Lueders [contact at lincom.eu]
Subject: The Realis-Irrealis Distinction, Events, Propositions and Speech Acts: Nordström (2026)


Title: The Realis-Irrealis Distinction, Events, Propositions and
Speech Acts
Series Title: LINCOM Studies in Language Typology 36
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Lincom GmbH
           https://lincom-shop.eu/
Book URL:
https://lincom-shop.eu/epages/57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectPath=%2FShops%2F57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d%2FProducts%2F%22ISBN%209783969392676%22

Author(s): Jackie Nordström (Goethe University Frankfurt)

ISBN 9783969392676 (Hardbound). LINCOM Studies in Language Typology
36. 132pp. 2025. 17x24cm. EUR 118.00.

Abstract:

This book shows through an extensive cross-linguistic investigation of
1051 languages that there are at least three distinct functions
associated with the binary realis-irrealis distinction in the
languages of the world, one more common one denoting event status (as
in Elliot [2000], Foley and van Valin [1984]), another less common one
denoting propositional modality (as in Givón [1994], Nordström [2010])
and a third, rare one involving speech act modality (as in Bybee and
Fleichmann [1995], Palmer [2001]).
The first function has merely scope over the event, involving
categories such as the plain future and event modality, but not
propositional modality, whereas the second one has scope over the
proposition, involving categories such as propositional modality but
typically not the plain future. The third one involves the distinction
between assertion vs. non-assertion. The division is supported by the
findings that realis-irrealis markers denoting event status are
morpho-syntactically less peripheral than realis-irrealis markers
denoting propositional modality and that complement clauses introduced
by event status realis-irrealis markers are more deranked than
complement clauses introduced by propositional modal ones. As a
consequence, one can never find a single unifying feature for all
language-specific realis-irrealis distinctions, as opposed to what has
been argued in previous accounts.

Linguistic Field(s): Typology

Written In: English (eng)



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