Parts of speech and spheres of modality in English and Czech

HLADKÝ, Josef. Parts of speech and spheres of modality in English and Czech. Brno studies in English. Brno: MU, 1983, vol. 15, p. 87-109. ISSN 1211-1791.

Basic information

Original name

Parts of speech and spheres of modality in English and Czech

Name (in English)

Parts of speech and spheres of modality in English and Czech

Authors

HLADKÝ, Josef

Edition

Brno studies in English, Brno, MU, 1983, 1211-1791

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Other information

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Organization unit

Faculty of Education

Keywords in English

parfts of speech; modality

Tags

modality, parfts of speech

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Abstract

V originále

An analysis of a number of English and Czech texts, both written and spoken, has shown differences between types of texts and between the two languages. In English newspaper editorials the proportion of spheres of modality is as follows: probability 39 per cent, necessity 29 per cent, and possibility 24 per cent, while in the Czech editorials the scale is 45 per cent possibility, 36 per cent necessity, and 12 per cent probability. The link to the political system of those times is obvious. The most frequent part of speech expressing modality is the adverb in Czech and the verb in English.

In English

An analysis of a number of English and Czech texts, both written and spoken, has shown differences between types of texts and between the two languages. In English newspaper editorials the proportion of spheres of modality is as follows: probability 39 per cent, necessity 29 per cent, and possibility 24 per cent, while in the Czech editorials the scale is 45 per cent possibility, 36 per cent necessity, and 12 per cent probability. The link to the political system of those times is obvious. The most frequent part of speech expressing modality is the adverb in Czech and the verb in English.