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Abstract structures for moods in Greek

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2026

Hansjakob Seiler
Hansjakob Seiler*
Affiliation:
University of Cologne
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Extract

The study of modal expressions in Ancient Greek is presented as a test case for a renewed inquiry into the modals of IE languages in general, including the proto-language. The modal verb forms alone will not suffice as a frame for the description of modal expressions. Instead, the complex regularities involving an array of surface categories are accounted for by abstract semanto-syntactic configurations. Two basic structures, disjunctive and subjunctive, each showing several subvarieties, are studied. Justifications for the abstract structures are given. It is further shown that the modal verb forms in specific positions do contribute to the modal meaning. Some consequences for the historical study of modals are outlined.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 47 , Issue 1 , March 1971 , pp. 79 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © 1971 Linguistic Society of America

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References

1 This paper represents the Collitz lecture delivered at the summer meeting of the Linguistic Society of America in Columbus, Ohio, July 1970. I am indebted to Dr. P. Seuren and to S. Sommerstein of the University of Cambridge for helpful suggestions.