Abstract
The article examines the semantic structure of the English modal verbs “shall” and “should” and attempts to formulate their systemic meanings based on the Lexical Prototype theory. With the lexical prototype underlying discourse-based word semantics and constituting lexical meaning at the level of the language system, the paper provides an algorithm for a cognitive analysis of the meaning of the modal verbs “shall” and “should”. The research results contain the wordings of the feasible systemic meanings of the verbs under discussion, which are presumed to exist in an average English native speaker’s linguistic consciousness: be obligated in one’s image to do sth (shall) and be expected in one’s image to do sth (should). The interpretation of the contexts of the “shall” and “should” uses in discourse gives ground to believe that the definitions registered in the dictionaries result from the verbs’ systemic (broad) meanings being used for pragmatic purposes. The research conclusions will allow of a fresh look at the issues related to the modal verbs polysemy and their role in various syntactic structures.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
