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Ways and means of expressing modality in English and Ukrainian
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Modality as an extralingual category expressing the relation of content to reality has in English and Ukrainian common means of realization. These include:
a) phonological means (stress and intonation);
b) lexico-grammatical means (modal verbs);
c) lexical means (modal words and modal expressions) conveying subjective modality;
d) grammatical means (mood forms of the verb) conveying grammatical modality.
The expression of modal meanings by phonological means has often an identical realization in both languages, though in Ukrainian the lexical means such as modal particles and modal adverbs are mostly preferred here. These means may also express the most subtle meanings of suggestion, admonition, supposition, doubt, assuredness, etc. Among the most frequently used particles, which create such and other meanings, are аж, ж, хоч, б, би, і, й, -но, -то, саме, таки, etc., and also adverbs авжеж, адже, надто, певне, напевне, все ж, все ж таки, мов, немов, ніби and some others. The choice of the particle or modal adverb is predetermined by the content, though sometimes it rests only with the translator, who may employ stronger or weaker means to convey the modal meaning in the sentence. Thus, the modal meaning in the proverb sentence below may have two expressions - a weaker and a stronger one (more emphatic) in Ukrainian:
After us the deluge.
1. Після нас хоч потоп. or: 2. Після нас хоч і потоп.
Since the phonologically expressed modality is always conveyed by translators as they themselves subjectively perceive the relation of content to reality, there may naturally be various ways of its individual realization in the target language. This can be seen from some possible interpretations of the modal meaning in the sentence where modality is expressed via the emphatic and logical stress laid on the predicate centres and on the pronoun you. Hence, there may be at least five different ways of expressing the modal meaning of the sentence in Ukrainian:
«I do really wish it hadn't been you.» (Greene)
«Мені й справді хотілося, щоб це був не 'ти.»
«Мені аж ніяк не хотілося, щоб це був 'ти.»
«Мені- такижаль, що це був 'ти.»
«Якжаль, що це був 'ти.»
«Я й справді жалкую, що це був 'ти.»
When under the emphatic or logical stress happens to be the English modal word, the expression of modality may coincide in both languages:
Jane is sure to be at her birth
day party to-night. (Hailey) Джейн неодмінно/обо
в'язково буде в неї на іменинах
сьогодні ввечері.
This same modal meaning of certainty (assuredness) may equally be expressed in Ukrainian by means of the modal adverb певне/напевне and the particles ж, таки:
Джейн напевне ж буде в неї сьогодні ввечері на іменинах.
Джейн напевно-таки буде в неї сьогодні ввечері на іменинах.
The meaning of uncertainty or doubt expressed in English through prosodic means finds its full realization in Ukrainian with the help of particles and the corresponding intonation and stress as well, Cf.:
«What if I don't pass the examinations,» said Charlie. (D. Lessing)
«Що ж воно буде, якщо я не складу іспитів,» промовив Чарлі.
As will be seen below, Ukrainian particles and adverbs may also be used to render modality which is expressed in English by some other lingual means.
THE LEXICO-GRAMMATICAL EXPRESSION OF MODALITY THROUGH MODAL VERBS
This kind of modality is realized in both languages via modal verbs/their lexical equivalents plus the infinitive of the notional verb. These constructions perform the function of the compound modal verbal predicate and express different meanings predetermined by the modal verb in the main, which can be observed in many citations and their Ukrainian translations on the forthcoming pages.
1. Thus, the modal verb can/could expressing physical or mental ability is usually translated into Ukrainian with the help of the modal verbs могти, вміти or by means of their equivalents мати змогу/ можливість, бути в змозі/мати силу:
а)І saw that he could hardly Я бачив, що він не може /не
take his eys off her. (Maugham) має сили очей відірвати від неї.
| «А тепер ти молись, Гарольде,» - сказала вона. «Я не вмію.» відповів Кребс. «Я не мав змоги зробити те, що надумав зробити...» |
«Now, you pray, Harold,» she said. «I can't», said. Krebs. (Hemingway)
«I haven't been able to do what I meant.» (E. Warton)
b) When expressing doubt, distrust, uncertainty, etc. (mainly in interrogative and negative sentences) the meaning of can/could is mostly enforced in Ukrainian with the help of the particles невже, хіба or the adverb навряд:
| «Can't you believe me, mother?» (Hemingway) «It can't be the same man - «(Christie) It can't possibly be Walter.» (Maugham) |
«Невже (хіба) ви мені не вірите, мамо?»
«Навряд чи це той самий чоловік.»
«Та невже/хіба то Волтер?»/ Навряд чи то Волтер.
с) When expressihg the meaning of reproach, surprise or permission the lexical equivalent of the modal verb can in Ukrainian is mostly the stative можна:
| Як можна таке обіцяти/ такого наобіцяти? «Можна прийти й подивитись ваші картини?» «Маючи все це, не можна залишати жінку без шеляга.» |
«How can one promise that?» (Greene)
«Can I come up and see your pictures?» (Hemingway)
«Having it all, one can't leave a woman without a bob.» (Maugham)
d) When the modal verb can expresses irrefutability of action or
assuredness of statement, it may be conveyed in Ukrainian, where
this kind of modal meaning is usually expressed implicitly, through a
definite word-order and sentence stress (prosodic means):
«You can't teach an old dog «Старого вчити - тільки
new tricks.» (D. Lessing) час марнувати.»
There was nothing, the boy Хлопцеві нічого не зали-
could do but run. (J.K. Jerome) шалось, як тікати.
Can the leopard change his Горбатого могила випра-
spots? (Saying) вить.
e) Some modal meanings of can/could are expressed in Ukrain
ian either lexico-grammatically or through phonological means. The
choice of the means rests then exclusively with the translator. Thus,
in the sentence below the meaning of the modal verb could is under
logical (or emphatic) stress which may be marked (pointed out)
accordingly in Ukrainian:
/ could know it without your telling me. (B. Sha w) Я міг довідатись про це і без тебе.
The same could in the isolated sentence may also be treated as a form of the subjunctive mood, marked by the participle б/би: Я довідався б/міг би довідатись про це і без твоєї допомоги.
«І can't recollect him.» «Я щось не пригадую/не
(Greene) можу його пригадати.»
«Why can't he goto a hospi- «Чому він не може лягти в
tal?» (Christie) шпиталь? /Чому він не лягає
до шпиталю?»
Note. Some English modal meanings of can have no corresponding equivalents in Ukrainian. Cf.: / can see in this picture. Я бачу на цій картині... І can hear you well. Я добре тебе чую. Сап you see me? Ти мене бачиш?
f) In some contextual environment the modal meaning of can
may be expressed in Ukrainian through other modal verbs:
«How can you talk to me like «Як ти смієш зі мною так
that.» (Fitzgerald) розмовляти.»
«We had an awful time getting «Повинен тобі сказати,
back, I can tell you.» (Ibid.) дорога назад була страшенно
важка.»
The modal verb can/could followed by the perfect infinitive and
expressing a probable, doubtful, uncertain, incredible, etc. action is usually translated into Ukrainian depending on its contextual meaning. The latter may be expressed: 1) through the past form of the corresponding verb (indicative mood) or 2) through its subjunctive mood form (умовний спосіб). For example:
1) «She can't have neglected «Невже вона всім цим
all that.» (F.King) знехтувала?»
«Вона не могла всім цим знехтувати.»
2) «How could she have been «Як вона могла так
like that?» (Fitzgerald) поводитись/ бути такою?»
Nobody could ha ve sa ved him. Ніхто його не врятував би/
(W. Trevor) Навряд чи хто врятував би його.
But he could have lived, this Проте хлопчина той міг би
boy. (Hailey) й жити/міг би й вижити.
Exercise I. Offer appropriate Ukrainian particles or modal adverbs (or both) to convey the phonologically expressed (through emphatic stress or intonation) modality in the English sentences below.
Model: «I did have ideas that way. For a time.» (Hailey) Таки закрадалися спершу такі думки/У мене й справді закралися були спершу такі думки, (modal particle таки; modal particle й plus the modal adverb справді).
1. «Wouldn't you Nke me to read?» she asked. 2. «Wouldn't you Пке some broth?» 3. «I wouldn't know what to do. Honestly.»
4. «Behave yourself.» «Why don't vou try behaving?» (Hemingway)
5. «Oh, I am longing to see it,» Iris said. 6. «Sweety, I don't honestly like this very much.» (F.King) 7. «I know you didn't mean to. but you did it (hurt).» (Fitzgerald) 8. «John, it was you who initiated the Joe Black Memorial Award.» (B. Glanville) 9. «I do apologise, Madam. I feel so... I would not have troubled.» (S.Hill) 10. «Now I caught you!» she said. «Now vou can't get awav!» 11. «It (music) seems to be right in them.» 12. «Wait till I tell him I met Walter Williams,» she said. 13. «Why don't you have another concert, some time?» 14. «Well, I'll be there. I' ll be there, if I possibly can. You can count on me.» 15. «I just caught myself in time.» (D.Parker) 16. «You think so?» «Why not.» I said. (Hemingway) 17. «I'm not hungry. Dave. I wouldn't lie to you.» (Caldwell)