Embedding epistemic modals in English: A corpus-based study

Abstract

The question of whether epistemic modals contribute to the truth conditions of the sentences they appear in is a matter of active debate in the literature. Fueling this debate is the lack of consensus about the extent to which epistemics can appear in the scope of other operators. This corpus study investigates the distribution of epistemics in naturalistic data. Our results indicate that they do embed, supporting the view that they contribute semantic content. However, their distribution is limited, compared to that of other modals. This limited distribution seems to call for a nuanced account: while epistemics are semantically contentful, they may require special licensing conditions.

The rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina expresses a conserved genetic program and distinct sets of secreted protein genes during infection of its two host plants, larch and poplar

“…KOG enrichment analysis was performed as previously described in Hacquard et al (2013). Secreted proteins of unknown function were extracted from the KOG categories "No Hit" and "Function unknown" to define a new KOG category that we termed "Secreted proteins".…”

“…Asexual multiplication of urediniospores causes severe epidemics in poplar plantations all over summer (Pinon & Frey, 2005). In autumn, uredinia differentiate into telia, in which karyogamy occurs and diploid teliospores overwinter on dead poplar leaves (Hacquard et al, 2013). When favourable conditions are met the next spring, basidiospores are produced and the cycle repeats again.…”

A Stylistic Analysis of the Use of Modality to Identify the Point of View in a Short Story

“…The interpretation, therefore, becomes heavily dependent on how the narrator interprets the external appearance of the environment. This is also supported by Hacquard and Wellwood (2012) who claimed that -epistemic modality is the speaker's assessment of probability and predictability‖ which is what passage 2 is implying -that the readers can/may detach themselves and depend on what the narrator will declare.…”

An Update on Epistemic Modals

“…Epistemic modals embed under other operators, though not as freely as other modals (see [34] for a corpus study and an overview of the literature on embeddings of epistemic modals). For instance, epistemic modals may occur in questions, in the antecedent of conditionals, under the scope of attitudes, and under the scope of quantifiers:…”