Modalities as Indicators in Argumentative Reconstruction

Andrea Rocci

Abstract: This paper addresses the role of modal expressions as argumentative indicators and the importance of considering the semantics of modality in the reconstruction of argumentation. Modal expressions include modal verbs, such as the English may, can, must, should, will and many other lexical and grammatical devices. For instance, in English we find modal adjectives (possible, necessary, probable, likely, certain), adverbs (maybe, necessarily, certainly, probably, likely, perhaps) and nouns (possibility, necessity, but also less obvious ones like risk).