TY - JOUR AU - Aijmer, Karin PY - 2018/04/26 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - The Swedish modal auxiliary ska/skall seen through its English translations JF - Bergen Language and Linguistics Studies JA - BeLLS VL - 9 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.15845/bells.v9i1.1523 UR - https://bells.uib.no/index.php/bells/article/view/1523 SP - AB - <p>The Swedish modal auxiliary <em>ska/ll</em> is interesting typologically because it is highly multifunctional with different functions in the systems of tense and modality. The aim of the paper is to investigate the translations of <em>ska/ll </em>into English as a methodology to throw light on its multifunctionality and the linguistic and extralinguistic factors determining its usage as a marker of obligation. The translations with <em>must </em>and<em> </em>the imperative point to the performative uses of <em>ska/ll </em>such as commands and orders. However, the translations also show that <em>ska/ll </em>is involved in offers, recommendations, suggestions, advice where the strength of imposition has been weakened. Other translations reveal more unexpected uses of <em>ska/ll</em>,<em> </em>for example to express negative evaluation if the context of the utterance could be interpreted as emotional or argumentative. The translations also draw attention to linguistic and non-linguistic factors aiding to distinguish functions of <em>ska/ll (</em>or choosing a particular translational correspondence).</p> ER -