Modal Verbs in Danish (review)

After a brief summary of the investigation (11–12), which seems at least slightly out of place at the beginning of the volume, the book proper begins. Ch. 1, ‘Introduction’ (13–27), briefly reviews some general issues in modality, e.g. the distinction between epistemic, deontic, dynamic, and futuric modality, using examples drawn largely from English. Brandt then defines some of the terms used in this study, as he does not always stick to established terminology (e.g. he suggests that the traditional category deontic should be divided into two categories, prospective and deontic). In the final section of this chapter, B lists the modal verbs of Danish and highlights some of their characteristics.

Ch. 2, ‘Dimensions of modality’ (28–42), examines some of the semantic elements common to the modal verbs. B argues for three ‘classificatory schemes’ of modality: modal source, modal intensity, and modal orientation. ‘Modal source’ refers to the source of the modality, often implied, but also explicitly expressed in a modal sentence (as in Du skal gøre det for dit helbreds skyld ‘You should do it for your health’s sake’). ‘Modal intensity’ depends on three factors: possibility, predictability, and necessity. Finally, ‘modal orientation’ is the result of a distinction between directed and nondirected modality (replacing the terms ‘active’ and ‘passive’ modality used in some earlier work). Other issues discussed in this chapter include the problem of modal space and variants of modal authority.

Ch. 3, ‘Danish modals and their variants’ (43–67), surveys the modal verbs of Danish. Each section contains an English gloss, a brief discussion of the main variants of the Danish modal, and a review of the dictionary definition of the modal. The chapter concludes with a short look at some marginal modal expressions involving auxiliary verbs, e.g. Den bil er ikke til at reparere, literally ‘The car is not to repair’.

The next chapter, ‘Basic modal grammar’ (68–121), examines the grammar of modal verbs, focusing largely on the interaction of modals with other aspects of Danish grammar. It begins with a discussion of the inflection of modal verbs; a section discussing the possible complements of modal verbs follows. B then discusses the interaction of modality and negation, the interaction of modality and tense, and finally the relationship between modals and the passive.

Ch. 5, ‘Syntactic modal constructions’ (122–60), focuses on the syntax of modals. Issues discussed in this chapter include coordination and modals (modal verbs coordinate easily with each other, but not with nonmodals), modal verb combinations (B suggests that a Danish sentence can contain as many as five modals), modals as verb arguments, and the use of adverbs with modals.

Ch. 6, ‘Concepts of modality’ (161–93), examines the semantic space of Danish modals, summarizes the rules for the use of Danish modals, and poses some questions that remain open, e.g. variants of ville. The volume concludes with a brief review of the major literature about Danish modals and two separate bibliographies, one for works dealing with Danish modals and one for other works consulted by B. There is no index.

Some sections are very well done (e.g. the survey of Danish modals in Ch. 3). But the book’s quality is uneven, and there are some somewhat surprising gaps in the bibliography. The volume itself is paper-bound and cleanly edited, with only a handful of typographical errors (some of which are quite disconcerting, e.g. the consistent misspelling of Modern German wollen as willen).