On the pragmatics of modal verbs

Abstract

This paper reflects on the nature of the contextual meaning that is often associated with modal verbs. Four examples are given of contextual effects that have been discussed in the literature: pragmatic strengthening and weakening, dynamic implication, strength of the modality and subjective vs. objective modality. It is argued that these four cases are not entirely similar when they are considered from the perspective of the semantics-pragmatics interface and the categorisation of modal meaning. This study shows what unites and what differentiates these four facets of the ‘pragmatics’ of modals.