Modals, Raising And A-Reconstruction

• Raising vs. control is often correlated with different modal interpretations (though see Barbiers 1995 for arguments against this claim) Ross (1969): root modals are transitive, epistemic modals are intransitive Roberts (1985): deontic modals assign a(n adjunct) theta role, epistemic modals do not assign a theta role (2) Basic modal interpretations a. John must be the leak in the FBI epistemic preferred (in view of the available evidence ...) b. According to FBI regulations, FBI agents must wear suits root/deontic preferred (in view of what the law provides ...) • root/deontic: express modal forces like permission, obligation, ability etc. • epistemic: evaluation/qualification of the likelihood of the embedded proposition according to what we believe/know about the facts, background, situation, world etc. Susi Wurmbrand & Jonathan David Bobaljik