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Modality is a semantic and grammatical category for the demonstration of the realis and irrealis worlds. It is the expression of speakers’ beliefs and mental realities on the proposition and its content evaluation. Palmer divides modality into ‘propositional modality’ and ‘event modality’. The propositional modality includes two modes of ‘epistemic’ and ‘evidential’, and the event modality consists of ‘deontic’ and ‘dynamic’ modes. Every language uses various grammatical and semantic modal operators in transforming concepts. In the present study, we investigated the linguistic modal structures and markers as well as the meaning and context in the three stories of Shahnameh (i.e. Fereydun’s Monarchy, Battle of Rostam and Esfandiyar, and Yazdegerd’s Monarchy) based on Palmer’s theory. Different modes of modality include speculative, assurance, conditionals, all types of reports, necessity, commissive and threat, wishes and fears, presuppositions, interrogative and negative statements, implication and assertion in the structures like perceptual and cognitive verbs, prepositions, adjectives, adverbs, allusion, and in the sentences expressing a general and acceptable concept such as idioms. Here, considering the setting is very important in conveying concepts of modality. The linguistic devices in these three stories are divided into three groups based on their frequencies: verbs (56%); nouns, adjectives, and adverbs (27%); and prepositions (17%). Introduction Language is an instrument for communication and transforming meanings and thoughts from one mind to the other. Linguistics is the science of studying language. Modality is one of the important categories in linguistics. The connection of ontological concepts with the human mind is demonstrated in the language by means of various signs. The realis and the irrealis in the world are converted into patterns the same as the mental presuppositions and propositions in relation to human’s inner and outer worlds. Through speaking, humans put these mental patterns into words in different ways. These patterns include a vast majority of meanings such as assertion, non-assertion, certainty, ambiguity, supposition, probability, and possibility on the propositional content of the speakers’ opinions. In the process of speaking or writing, people express the degree of probability, possibility, and/or certainty based on their own intentions. Speakers may express their statements with hesitation and doubt by using a particular grammatical structure. Studying all of these topics relates to modality, especially regarding form and meaning. The history of the study of form goes back to the period of Greek philosophers such as Aristotle. Aristotle is among the people who raised issues such as necessity, possibility, and impossibility. These topics are the basis of today’s rational logic. This discussion covers a wide range of topics in the philosophy of language (worlds of language) and semantics. Many researchers have addressed this issue with a grammaticalsemantic perspective. Materials and Methods Since modality is a semantic category, not only grammatical markers but also context and meaning should be taken into consideration. Shahnameh is one of the classic stories that is full of miscellaneous scenes and characters. This made Shahnameh a suitable text for studying all types of modal markers. In this study, three stories of Shahnameh (i.e. Fereydun’s Monarchy, Battle of Rostam and Esfandiyar, and Yazdegerd’s Monarchy) have been selected from the mythical, the athletic, and the historical aspects. The verses have been recorded according to the copy by Jalal Khaleghi Motlagh (2015). Research Findings The results of the study show that linguistic devices in these three stories are divided into three groups based on their frequencies: verbs (56%); nouns, adjectives, and adverbs (27%); and prepositions (17%). Various types of modal markers were observed in the forms of verbs, adverbs, adjectives, semi-sentences, phrases, and allusions for different types of modality including epistemic, evidential, deontic, and their sub-types. Some of these modal devices are the allusions that have been used for the epistemic or deontic modes. Interrogative statements are used rarely for asking questions; rather, the application of this type of modality is consistent with the epic scenes of these stories in which there is no opportunity for asking questions and contemplating. However, interrogative statements have been used for motivation and encouragement in order to reach a given goal. They might also be used for reprimand, reproach, and sarcasm. Discussion of Results and Conclusions Considering the results of the study, those idioms or statements which have been proven with repeated experiences are the subsets of the epistemic modality with high assurance. Sometimes, hesitation and anxiety are expressed by subsequent ifs which can be a marker for showing this mode. Evidential statements are more of a report type, and the next order is the interpretation of signs (dreams, astrology). To conclude, studying context, meaning, and the linguistic modal structures and markers in the three stories of Shahnameh based on Palmer’s theory indicated that not only formal markers suggest modality but also space, context, and meaning can express modes of modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
