On the Translation of Modals from English into Arabic and Vice Versa: The Case of Deontic Modality

Abdel-Fattah, Mahmoud M.

Babel 2006 51 (1)31-48
(ReLIS:jul:oibfdn:y:2006:v:51:i:1:p:31-48)

Abstract:

Modality has a claim to be considered a linguistic universal. There are many indications that this may be true. Yet, the concept of modality varies from one language to another. Even within a given language, there may exist uncertainties according to the approach: syntactic, semantic, pragmatic etc.; or formal definition vs. other definitions (e.g. English: modal auxiliaries, Arabic: verbs, prepositions and particles). The notion of modality is “notoriously vague” (Palmer 1986). It is further said that the meaning of modality is very difficult to determine relying on a single perspective.

Keywords: Traducción ; Arabe-Inglés ; Inglés-Arabe
Pages: 31-48
Volume: 51
Year: 2006
Issue: 1

 (go top)