Volitive modality

Volitive modality (abbreviated VOL) is a linguistic modality that indicates the desires, wishes or fears of the speaker. It is classified as a subcategory of deontic modality.[1]

Realisation in speech

Volitive moods are a category of grammatical moods that are used to express volitive modality. Examples are the optative, desiderative and imprecative moods.[1] However, many languages (like English) have other ways to express volitive modality, for example modal verbs ("Wish that you were here!", "May he live forever!").

Esperanto

Esperanto has a volitive verb form that is formed by adding a -u to the verb stem and used to indicate that an action or state is desired, requested, ordered, or aimed for.[2] The verb form is formally called volitive,[3][4] but in practice, it can be seen as a broader deontic form, rather than a pure volitive form, since it is also used to express orders and commands besides wishes and desires.

Examples:

  • Venu. ― "Come." (a request or command)
  • Donu ĝin al mi. ― "Give it to me." (a request or command)
  • Ni faru tion. ― "Let's do that." (a desire or aim)
  • Mi iru dormi. ― "I ought to go to sleep." (expresses the desirability of the action)
  • Via infano sukcesu en la vivo. ― "May your child be successful in life." (a wish or desire)
  • Mi volas, ke vi helpu min. ― "I want you to help me." (a desire)
  • Ŝi petas, ke mi silentu. ― "She asks that I be silent." (a request)

See also

References
  1. Loos, Eugene E.; Anderson, Susan; Day, Dwight H., Jr.; Jordan, Paul C.; Wingate, J. Douglas (eds.). "What is volitive modality?". Glossary of linguistic terms. SIL International. Retrieved 2009-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  2. Wennergren, Bertilo. "Vola modo – U-finaĵo". Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko. Retrieved 2021-05-26. U-formo montras, ke la ago aŭ stato ne estas reala, sed dezirata, volata, ordonata aŭ celata. [a U form shows that the action or state is not real, but desired, wanted, ordered, or aimed for.]
  3. Kalocsay, Kálmán; Waringhien, Gaston (1985). Plena Analiza Gramatiko (PDF). Rotterdam: Universal Esperanto Association. p. 133. ISBN 9789290170327.
  4. Wennergren, Bertilo. "Finitivaj verboj: Volitivo (imperativo)". lernu!. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
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