On the Means of Expressing Epistemic Modality in the Correspondence of Karel Havlíček

Abstract

This article analyses differences in lexical expressions of epistemic modality between Czech and German in the correspondence of Karel Havlíček. The main focus is on modal particles.

Many Czech particles do not have an analogical manner of expression in German, i.e. the modality is expressed in another way. For example, in Havlíček's German correspondence, the opinion of others is expressed only using a modal verb and a lexical phrase, and not using a modal particle as in Czech.

The article discusses the consequences of these irregularities in the domain of transition between word classes.

Keywords

• correspondence
• epistemic modality
• Karel Havlíček
• modal particle
• modal verb
• parenthesis