Search results for "temporal-aspectual feature"

The interaction of temporal-aspectual features in modal polysemy: a case-study from Sicilian

2009

THE INTERACTION OF TEMPORAL-ASPECTUAL FEATURES IN MODAL POLYSEMY: A CASE-STUDY FROM SICILIAN. We intend to analyse a number of Sicilian constructions involving the modal vuliri “want” and the modal periphrasis aviri a “have to+ infinitive”. They are used to express both modal values and futurity (Sicilian, but not Italian, lacks a synthetic future). Our analysis is largely based on Cognitive Grammar, according to which modality is a strategy of grounding, involving different kinds of subjectification (Langacker 1991; Traugott 1989), variously grammaticalised in languages. The scalar nature of grammaticalisation processes (Heine et al. 1991) also accounts for the polysemous behaviour of moda…