Original scientific paper

The Intensifying Function of Modal Particles and Modal Elements in a Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Mia Batinić orcid.org/0000-0001-9470-2326 ; Odjel za lingvistiku Sveučilišta u Zadru
Marijana Kresić orcid.org/0000-0002-9284-0028 ; Odjel za lingvistiku Sveučilišta u Zadru
Anita Pavić Pintarić orcid.org/0000-0002-5105-9999 ; Odjel za germanistiku Sveučilišta u Zadru

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the intensifying function of German modal particles and equivalent modal expressions in Croatian and English. Our hypothesis is that some modal particles in German and their functional equivalents in Croatian and English can express different degrees of intensity and types of intensification. The presented study comprises two parts. First, the use of intensifying modal particles by a group of speakers of L1 Croatian and L2 German/English is investigated. On the basis of the results obtained, and by means of a previously conducted corpus analysis (cf. Kresić and Batinić 2014), an intensification scale with respect to the inventory of German modal particles and corresponding particles in Croatian as well as equivalent English expressions is suggested. Some German and Croatian modal particles and equivalent modal elements in English can be classified on the upper and partially on the lower part of the proposed intensification scale when compared to the norm, i.e. an utterance unmarked by a modal particle.

Keywords

particles; modal particles; modality; intensity; intensification; intensifiers; intensification scale; German; Croatian; English

Hrčak ID:

141867

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/141867

Publication date:

17.7.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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