Modality in the Spanish Verb Through the Lens of Academic Tradition: T he Evolution of Concepts in RAE Grammars

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study of the categories of modality and verbal mood in the academic grammars of the Spanish language published by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) from 1973 to 2011. The relevance of the chosen topic lies in the fact that modality remains one of the most debated and challenging categories to describe in linguistics, and its treatment in academic grammars reflects not only the evolution of linguistic thought but also shifts in scientific paradigms within Hispanic studies. Thus, the RAE’s academic grammars perform not only a normative function but also serve as a unique mirror of the development of theoretical approaches to describing linguistic phenomena, particularly modality and mood.

 The theoretical part of the work examines the main approaches to defining modality, its nature, and its place within the system of grammatical categories in Spanish. Special attention is paid to the analysis of epistemic and deontic modality, as well as their grammatical expression through the system of verbal moods. It is emphasized that in Spanish, verbal mood is traditionally considered the primary, though not the sole, means of expressing modal meanings.

 Using the material from RAE grammars, the article traces the evolution of views on the relationship between modality and mood: from a rigid opposition between modus and dictum in early works to more flexible and functional models in modern editions that take into account pragmatic and discursive aspects of modal form usage. The issue of terminological inconsistency and instability within the academic tradition is analyzed, related to differences in definitions and classifications of modal phenomena.

 The article also discusses contemporary trends in linguistic research concerning the identification or, conversely, the differentiation of the concepts of modality and verbal mood. It is noted that some researchers associate specific moods with certain types of modality (for example, indicative with modality of reality, imperative with modality of necessity, subjunctive with modality of possibility), while others interpret modality more broadly, including not only grammatical but also lexical means of expression.