The modal verbs in ChineseRašeta, Emilija (Avtor) Petrovčič, Mateja (Mentor) modal verbsdynamic modalitydeontic modalityepistemic modalityfrequencyThe diploma thesis investigates the use, development, and nuanced semantics of selected Chinese modal verbs. In the opening chapter, I introduce the general concept of linguistic modality, reviewing its theoretical foundations in functional and generative approaches, and outlining the various classifications and terminological distinctions that appear in the literature. I then turn to a detailed analysis of selected modal verbs in Chinese, tracing their historical development from their earliest attested usages to their modern grammatical roles. In the final chapter, I examine how major socio-political transformations of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have influenced the pragmatic functions and communicative strategies associated with these modals. I show how shifts in modal verb usage correspond to changing norms of authority, individual agency, and politeness conventions.E. Rašeta20252025-07-18 07:45:07Diplomsko delo/naloga170845UDK: 81VisID: 583606COBISS_ID: 243886339sl