Epistemic must in Japanese – the case of modals hazu and ni chigainai
Epistemic must in Japanese – the case of modals hazu and ni chigainai

Author(s): Dariusz Głuch
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: modal; epistemic; semantics; must; ordering source
Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse semantics of two Japanese modals of epistemic necessity: hazu and ni chigainai. The analysis shows that although both are of the same type and force, their semantics differs. While hazu seems to be a modal conveying certainty based on credible premises, ni chigainai is connected with premises loosely, and tends to be used as a modal expressing strong belief. Thus I propose to treat the latter as a modal of possibility that takes a shape of necessity on the surface level.

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