The modal verbs in Chinese

Rašeta, Emilija (author), Petrovčič, Mateja (mentor)

The 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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: modal verbs, dynamic modality, deontic modality, epistemic modality, frequency
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: E. Rašeta
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170845
• UDC: 81
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243886339
• Publication date in RUL: 18.07.2025

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Modalni glagoli v kitajščini

Abstract

Diplomsko delo raziskuje rabo, razvoj in niansirano semantiko izbranih kitajskih modalnih glagolov. V uvodnem poglavju predstavljam splošni pojem jezikovne modalnosti, pregledujem njegove teoretične temelje v funkcionalnih in generativnih pristopih, ter opisujem različne klasifikacije in terminološka razlikovanja, ki se pojavljajo v literaturi. Nato se posvetim podrobni analizi izbranih modalnih glagolov v kitajščini in sledim njihovemu zgodovinskemu razvoju od najzgodnejših potrjenih rab do sodobnih slovničnih vlog. V zadnjem poglavju preučujem, kako so glavne družbenopolitične transformacije dvajsetega in zgodnjega enaindvajsetega stoletja vplivale na pragmatične funkcije in sporazumevalne strategije, povezane s temi modalnimi glagoli. Pokažem, kako spremembe v rabi modalnih glagolov ustrezajo spreminjajočim se normam avtoritete, posameznikovega delovanja in vljudnostnim konvencijam.

• Keywords: modalni glagoli, dinamična modalnost, deontična modalnost, epistemična modalnost, pogostost