This book is the first comprehensive survey of modals and modal constructions in the languages
of Europe. It is a collaborative effort between scholars from Europe and the United States
stemming from a workshop on Modals in the Languages of Europe in Valencia.The aim of this book
is to describe the properties of modals and modal constructions in the European area and to
compare the systems in individual languages or language families from an areal and genetic
perspective. For the sake of contrast the book also looks at the expression of modality in
some languages just outside of Europe. The book consists of fourteen chapters on modal systems
in individual languages or language families written by experts in the respective languages
and an introductory and concluding chapter written by the editors.The book gives both a
description of the modals in the individual languages and an account of the nature and status
of modals in general. It provides the reader with a theoretical account of how modals and modal
constructions are grammaticalized. This theoretical account is informed by the parameters of
grammaticalization of Christian Lehmann. These parameters were chosen because they are
language-independent as opposed to more language specific criteria (for instance the
NICE-criteria for English). The parameters themselves are examined as well for their
suitability as part of any theory of grammaticalization. The book thus gives readers access to
a collection of data on modality that surpasses most works in this field and also provides a
fresh perspective on issues of grammaticalization and language contact. It is therefore of
interest to scholars of modality language contact and areal linguistics grammaticalization
theory and typology.
