lingthusiasm
patreon
69: What we can, must, and should say about modals
🕑 Added 2022-06-16 22:24:54 +0000 UTCSometimes, we use language to make definite statements about how the world is. Other times, we get more hypothetical, and talk about how things could be. What can happen. What may occur. What might be the case. What will happen (or would, if only we should have known!) What we must and shall end up with. In other words, we use a part of language known as modals and modality!
In this episode, your hosts Lauren Gawne and Gretchen McCulloch get enthusiastic about modals! We talk about the nine common modals in English, the gloriously-named quasimodals (no relation to the bellringer but I would absolutely read the Quasimodo/Quasimodal crossover, I’m just saying), and how people use the ambiguity between permission and believability in English modals for comic effect. We also talk about neat things modals do in various languages: in Nsyilxcen, the modal is a separate word, whereas in Nez Perce, it’s an affix on the verb, and in German, there are also modal adverbs. In Italian Sign Language and American Sign Language the forcefulness of the modal (such as the difference between “should” and “must”) is indicated through having modals that are performed faster or larger or have a more intensive expression in how they’re signed.
Announcements:
In this month’s bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the word "like"! We talk about why "like" falls prey to the frequency and recency illusions, why linguists get excited about "like" and other function words, and other important dispatches from the world of "like" (apparently people who use "like" are perceived as more attractive!).
Join us on Patreon to listen to this and 60+ other bonus episodes. You’ll also get access to the Lingthusiasm Discord server where you can chat with other language nerds!
For links to things mentioned in this episode: lingthusiasm.com/post/68725385661…t-and-should-say
Comments
This song was my mental soundtrack for the ep.: https://youtu.be/j9KwmL313z8 (Wickerpedia says the ~1944 singer’s reaction that gave Monk his title was “Well you need not.” So that is a good datapoint in itself. Also, shoutout to the German verb dürfen!
I don't think it was in the episode but of course another big use of modals in English is as part of the alleged "future tenses". Episode 41 touched on how the future isn't quite as tense as the past.
