Deontic modality (
abbreviated
An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...
) is a
linguistic modality
In linguistics and philosophy, modality refers to the ways language can express various relationships to reality or truth. For instance, a modal expression may convey that something is likely, desirable, or permissible. Quintessential modal ex ...
that indicates how the world ought to be according to certain norms, expectations, speaker desires, etc. In other words, a deontic expression indicates that the state of the world (where 'world' is loosely defined here in terms of the surrounding circumstances) does not meet some standard or ideal, whether that standard be social (such as laws), personal (desires), etc. The sentence containing the deontic modal generally indicates some action that would change the world so that it becomes closer to the standard or ideal.
This category includes the following subcategories:
*Commissive modality (the speaker's commitment to do something, like a promise or threat;
alethic logic
Modal logic is a collection of formal systems developed to represent statements about necessity and possibility. It plays a major role in philosophy of language, epistemology, metaphysics, and natural language semantics. Modal logics extend other ...
or
temporal logic In logic, temporal logic is any system of rules and symbolism for representing, and reasoning about, propositions qualified in terms of time (for example, "I am ''always'' hungry", "I will ''eventually'' be hungry", or "I will be hungry ''until'' I ...
would apply): "I shall help you."
*
Directive modality (commands, requests, etc.;
deontic logic
Deontic logic is the field of philosophical logic that is concerned with obligation, permission, and related concepts. Alternatively, a deontic logic is a formal system that attempts to capture the essential logical features of these concepts. It ...
would apply): "Come!", "Let's go!", "You've got to taste this curry!"
*
Volitive modality Volitive modality (abbreviated ) is a linguistic modality that indicates the desires, wishes or fears of the speaker. It is classified as a subcategory of deontic modality.
Realisation in speech
Volitive moods are a category of grammatical moods t ...
(wishes, desires, etc.;
boulomaic logic would apply): "If only I were rich!"
A related type of modality is
dynamic modality, which indicates a subject's internal capabilities or willingness as opposed to external factors such as permission or orders given.
Realisation in speech
Deontic moods are a category of
grammatical moods that are used to express deontic modality. An example for a deontic mood is the
imperative ("Come!").
However, many languages (like English) have additional ways to express deontic modality, like
modal verb
A modal verb is a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality such as a ''likelihood'', ''ability'', ''permission'', ''request'', ''capacity'', ''suggestion'', ''order'', ''obligation'', or ''advice''. Modal verbs generally accompany the b ...
s ("I ''shall'' help you.") and other verbs ("I ''hope'' to come soon."), as well as
adverbial
In English grammar, an adverbial ( abbreviated ) is a word (an adverb) or a group of words (an adverbial clause or adverbial phrase) that modifies or more closely defines the sentence or the verb. (The word ''adverbial'' itself is also used as an ...
s (''hopefully'') and other constructions.
Esperanto
Esperanto has a mood formally called ''volitive'' which is also used for various directive uses, so it can be seen as a broader deontic mood. However, it is not used to express commissive modality. It is formed by adding ''-u'' to the verb stem, and it is used for orders and commands as well as for expressing will, desire, and purpose.
*''Estu feliĉa!'' "(May you) Be happy!"
*''Donu al mi panon.'' "Give me bread."
*''Ni iru!'' "Let's go!"
*''Mi legu tion.'' "Let me read that."
*''Mi volas, ke vi helpu min.'' "I want you to help me."
*''Ĉu mi faru tion?'' "Shall I do that?"
See also
*
Angelika Kratzer
*
Deontic logic
Deontic logic is the field of philosophical logic that is concerned with obligation, permission, and related concepts. Alternatively, a deontic logic is a formal system that attempts to capture the essential logical features of these concepts. It ...
*
Epistemic modality
Epistemic modality is a sub-type of linguistic modality that encompasses knowledge, belief, or credence in a proposition. Epistemic modality is exemplified by the English modals ''may'', ''might'', ''must''. However, it occurs cross-linguisticall ...
*
Free choice inference Free choice is a phenomenon in natural language where a linguistic disjunction appears to receive a logical conjunctive interpretation when it interacts with a modal operator. For example, the following English sentences can be interpreted to mean ...
References
External links
modality in a machine-translation interlingua
{{Formal semantics
Grammatical moods
Linguistic modality
Semantics
Modal logic
Formal semantics (natural language)