End of ADS-L Digest - 2 Jul 1994 to 3 Jul 1994

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There is one message totalling 20 lines in this issue.



Topics of the day:



 1. Double modals in Utah



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Date:  Sun, 3 Jul 1994 23:58:02 CDT

From:  "Donald M. Lance" <ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET>

Subject: Re: Double modals in Utah



Re Salikoko Mufwene's question about 'dare' and 'need. --

These verbs, it seems to me, have somewhat different senses as "modals" and

as regular verbs. Whether we have the regular verbs 'dare' and 'need' that

are occasionally used as modals, or vice versa, depends on the type of

bondage in one's theory. Contemporary speakers who use these verbs as

modals would do so only in certain (formal) registers, so theories that

ignore register (e.g., traditional grammar; strict structuralism; generative

rules) have no way of providing a satisfying answer to Sali's question.

Sali offered two options: "regular verbs with limited modal uses" and "modal

verbs with idiosyncratic regular verb characteristics." The former.

I don't feel a strong need to solve this "problem," because of the age of

speakers who use 'dare' and 'need'as quasi-modals -- but it is an interesting

one.                          DMLance