Modal sense disambiguation
Modal verbs in English are tricky because the form and function do not have one-to-one correspondence. In Engagement annotation, we will annotate the semantic/functional categories of the modal verbs before assigning them into Engagement class.
List of modal verbs
In order to better classify modal verbs into different engagement categories (Entertain or not), we will classify the senses of modal verb. Following Halliday & Mathiessen (2014, p. 145), the following items are considered as modal verbs (Modal operators) in this project:
- can, may, could, might, (dare), will, would, should, is to, was to, must, ought to, need to, have/has/had to
- needn’t, don’t need to, don’t have to, won’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, (isn’t/wasn’t), mustn’t, oughtn’t to, can’t, couldn’t, (mayn’t, mightn’t, haven’t to).
Semantic classes and how to deal with them
There are three types in modal sense classification.
| Class | General Meaning | Engagement tag |
|---|---|---|
| Epistemic | probability, possibility, speaker’s jusdgements | ENTERTAIN |
| Deontic | request, permission, obligation | ENTERTAIN |
| Dynamic | ability, willingness, | Leave untagged for Engagement for now |
The annotation will happen in two-step manner.
1) For each occurrence of modal verbs, assign modal sense classes from Epistemic, Deontic, Dynamic:Capacity, or Dynamic:Willingness.
2) Epistemic and Deontic modal verbs are then categorized as ENTERTAIN for the Engagement layer. The rest of the modal verbs will be left untagged at the Engagement layer.
Epistemic modal — Modal of probability and possibility
Epistemic modal can be identified “using a paraphrase such as: “someone is likely/ unlikely to do something”, or “something is likely/possible/(im)probable to happen/to be the case”” (p. 10). Sometimes this category also indicates assumption or deduction by the speaker.
- Geez, Buddha must be so annoyed!
- He may be home by now.
- Someone is knocking at the door. That will be John.
- This manuscript is damned hard to read. Maybe some more light can help.
- John may/must have been in his office.
- Mary ought to / should / could be at school by now.
- He can’t be in his office now. (Palmer, 2001, p. 15)
- They ‘ll be in the office. (They always are at this time)
- It can rain very hard in winter.
Deontic modal — Modal of request, permission and obligation
Deontic modality has two sub-classes: request and permission. “Deontic modality is directive in that the event is controlled by circumstances external to the subject of the sentence (more strictly the person or persons identified by the subject).” (Palmer, 2003, p.7).
Request can be identified “using as paraphrase: “need to do something” or “it is required to do something”” (p. 10).
Permission can be identified “using as paraphrase: “allow/don’t allow somebody to do something””
According to Martin & White (2005), deontic modal is categorized as Entertain.
- We must have clear European standards. (obligation)
- You may enter this building. (permission)
- We should be thankful for what he has done for us, so we must find a way to show our gratitude to him. (obligation)
- John may/can come in now. (permission)
- John must come in now. (obligation)
- You can smoke in here. (permission)
- You needn’t/ don’t have to come in.
- You need to do the following before the exam.
Dynamic modal – Modal of capability, ability, and willingness
Dynamic modal can be identified “using the paraphrase “be (un)able to do something”” (p. 10). They typically relates to the capacity of the subject-participant of the clause. The control of the event is internal to the subject; that is, capacity and willingness is internal to the subject.
- They can’t even read them. (ability)
- That kid can sing like Frank Sinatra. (ability)
- She can run a mile in four minutes. (ability)
- I will do it for you. (willingness)
Confusing cases
To be updated…
Dynamic vs. deontic can
- You can do this, if you want.
Epistemic vs. Dynamic could
- He could have arrived in time.
Epistemic vs deontic should –This is less important because they will be ENTERTAIN anyway.
- He should be aware of the issue.