The application of factuality tests in modal adverbs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21165/el.v48i2.2320Keywords:
modality, adverbs, factualityAbstract
The objective of the present paper is to examine the application of copredication tests proposed by Saurí (2008) to the classification of modal adverbs in Brazilian Portuguese, following Narrog’s (2005) definition of modality. Using occurrences extracted from Córpus do Português (DAVIES, 2006), three adverbs considered as modals in Brazilian descriptive grammars were analyzed: francamente (‘frankly’), quase (‘almost’) and obrigatoriamente (‘obligatorily’). The results of the analysis point to copredication tests being a possible tool for the classification of modal adverbs, based on the concept of modality as suspension of factuality, providing objective criteria to its determination, at the same time allowing the problematization of such concept, advancing the studies in this field.Downloads
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