Modality in the Korean Suffix -keyss

Abstract

The modal suffix -keyss has two contextually conditioned readings: In one set of contexts, it codes volition, in the complementary set of contexts, it codes a supposition. The study investigates the conditions under which the two readings appear and identifies four relevant semantic parameters: control of the subject, speech act participant role of the subject, sentence type and aspect. The suppositive meaning is the default, while the volitive reading appears only in a specific constellation of the values of these parameters, in which the notion of modal origo is of special relevance. The same rules apply if the clause marked by -keyss is a dependent clause.