Epistemic Modality in Standard Spoken Tibetan: Epistemic Verbal Endings and Copulas

Abstract

This monograph deals with the grammatical expression of epistemic modalities in standard spoken Tibetan. It describes the system of various types of epistemic verbal endings and epistemic copulas frequently employed in the spoken language, as well as those that occur less frequently.

These verbal endings are analyzed from the semantic, syntactic and pragmatic viewpoints, and illustrated by examples.

Keywords

• Modality
• Standard
• Spoken
• Tibetan
• Epistemic
• Verbal
• Endings
• Copulas