情态动词否定之研究

Research On the Negation of Modal Verbs

Palmer认为在英语语法中 ,最难描写的莫过于情态助动词系统 (Palmer,1 979:preface)。情态动词之所以纷繁复杂、难以描写是因为它们在各种英语文体中使用频率极高 ,并且表达的意义与人的情感和意念有着密切关系。由于情态动词的意义的多样性和模糊性 ,其否定形式及范围也是复杂多变的。我们可以依据Palmer对三类情态动词(推测性、义务性、原动性 )和两种情态级别 (可能级、必定级 )的划分 ,对情态动词的否定范围及语义进行分类分级研究 ;同时 ,鉴于可能级和必定级情态动词否定之间的语义约同现象 ,对逻辑等式Not -possible =Necessary -not;Not -necessary=Possible -not在情态动词句式中的操作规律加以探讨 。

Palmer holds that it is the modal system that is most difficult to describe in English grammar.The reason why the English modals are so complicated and difficult to describe is that they appear in different English styles with high frequency and express what is concerned with human affection and imagery.Because of the diversity and vagueness of the modals,their negative forms and scope become complex and changeable.My present thesis attempts to study the scope and semantic meaning of negation of the English modals based on Palmer's classification of three kinds of modals(epistemic,deontic and dynamic)and two degrees of modality(possibility and necessity).In view of the equivalences for the modalities of possibility and necessity with negation,the thesis also studies the operating regularities of the logical equation in the practical sentences:Not-possible=Necessary-not;Not-necessary=Possible-not.As a result,it shows this equation provides the logical basis for the complementary phenomenon between negative modals.