Author(s): Katalin KISS

Title: REMARKS ON THE EXPRESSION OF DEONTIC MODALITY IN BUSINESS ENGLISH CONTEXT

Source: Sz. Simon (ed.): 12th International Conference of J. Selye University. Language and Literacy Section. Conference Proceedings

ISBN: 978-80-8122-376-1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36007/3761.2020.93

Publisher: J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia

PY, pages: 2020, 93-101

Published on-line: 2020

Language: en

Abstract: The study deals with the category of deontic modality in English and analyses the semantics of English modal verbs, modal adjectival expressions and modal passive adjectives used as the possible means of expressing deontic modality in Business English. Though modal verbs are regarded as the core deontic categories, it will be shown that the range of deontic meanings can be expressed by deontic adjectives, clauses, passive modal adjectives as well and deontic categories often acquire different meanings via semantic extensions. While adjectives lack the directive meaning of obligation and permission, modal passive adjectives may denote obligation, prohibition and permission in a straightforward way. In many instances, however, modal verbs such as must, should, may and can convey epistemic meanings along with deontic, thus another aim of the present study is to show that the two types of modality are usually relative and complements to each other and the interpretation of the given modal meaning depends on the context. Examples taken from business English contexts will be used to support our observations.

Keywords: Modal, deontic, epistemic, propositional modality, obligation, possibility

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