Des modalités de l'interlocution au système des modaux

Abstract

The major claim of this paper is that grammatical paradigms such as this vs that, present vs past etc, should be connected with interlocutive patterns rather than referentially-based contrasts. First I argue that the category of modality, which is often accounted for in terms of subjectivity of the speaker alone, should include full reference to the recipient. Along these lines modal auxiliaries (must, can / may, will / shall) are shown to fit into a general configuration of modalities of communication (see C. Douay : 2000). The analysis developed in the last part aims at a unified description of the main contextual uses of the modals and intends to contribute to a necessary exploration of interaction between interlocution

Keywords

• modalité
• interlocution
• énonciateur
• marqueurs
• configuration