What is alethic modality?

Definition
	Alethic modality is modality that connotes the speaker’s estimation of the logical necessity or possibility of the proposition expressed by his utterance.

Discussion
	The adjective alethic is also used in expressions of specific degrees of alethic modality, such as
	alethic possibility, or alethic necessity.

Example (English)

Alfred is a bachelor; thus he must be unmarried.

Adapted from:

Lyons 1977b 788

Concept module: alethic modality
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004