17. Modality in translation. Handling modal forms.

Modality as an extralingual category expressing the relation of content to reality has in English and Ukrainian common means of realization. These include:

1. phonological means (stress and intonation);

2. lexico-grammatical means (modal verbs);

3. lexical means (modal words and modal expressions) con­veying subjective modality;

4. grammatical means (mood forms of the verb) conveying grammatical modality.

The expression of modal meanings by phonological means has often an identical realization in both languages, though in Ukrainian the lexical means such as modal particles and modal adverbs are mostly preferred here. These means may also express the most subtle meanings of suggestion, admonition, supposition, doubt, assuredness, etc. Among the most frequently used particles, which create such and other meanings, are аж, ж, хоч, б, би, і, й, -но, -то, саме, таки, etc., and also adverbs авжеж, адже, надто, певне, напевне, все ж, все ж таки, мов, немов, ніби and some others.

When under the emphatic or logical stress happens to be the English modal word, the expression of modality may coincide in both languages:

Jane is sure to be at her birth­ day party to-night. (Hailey) - Джейн неодмінно/обо­в'язково буде в неї на іменинах сьогодні ввечері.

This same modal meaning of certainty (assuredness) may equally be expressed in Ukrainian by means of the modal adverb певне/напевне and the particles ж, таки:

Джейн напевне ж буде в неї сьогодні ввечері на іменинах.

Джейн напевно-таки буде в неї сьогодні ввечері на іменинах.

Lexico-grammatical expression of modality is realized in both languages via modal verbs/their lexical equivalents plus the infinitive of the notional verb.

1. Thus, the modal verb can/could expressing physical or mental ability is usually translated into Ukrainian with the help of the modal verbs могти, вміти or by means of their equivalents мати змогу/ можливість, бути в змозі/мати силу:

«I haven't been able to do what I meant.» (E. Warton)- «Я не мав змоги зробити те, що надумав зробити ...»

When expressing doubt, distrust, uncertainty, etc. (mainly in interrogative and negative sentences) the meaning of can/could is mostly enforced in Ukrainian with the help of the particles невже, хіба or the adverb навряд:

«Can't you believe me, mother?» (Hemingway)- Невже (хіба) ви мені не вірите, мамо?»

2. The modal verb may/might with its lexical equivalents to be permitted I to be allowed has also some peculiarites of use and expression of meaning. The latter predetermines the use of its Ukrain­ian lexical equivalents. Thus, when the modal verb may/might ex­presses permission it is usually translated into Ukrainian as the stative можна. For example:

a) «Now may Ідо?» (Christie)- «To що, можна мені йти?»

b)The meanings of permission expressed by the modal verb may/might can equally be conveyed by the Ukrainian verbs дозволяти, не заперечувати:

«May I speak now?- « Тепер дозволяєте/можна мені говорити?»

3. The modal verb have (to) is of common lexical nature in English and Ukrainian, where its meaning in all substyles corresponds to the verb мати as in the following examples:

a) «Oh, I have to tell you mething, mamma.» (Dreiser) - «О,мамо,я маю вам щось сказати/ розповісти.»

In some contextual environment, however, the meaning of have to may be very close if not equivalent to must (мусити/повинен):

«I have to leave you here.»- «Я змушений/повинен покинути/залишити тебе тут.»

4. The modal verb ought to like the modal verb should ex­presses moral obligation, presupposition, desirability, advisability and some other meanings. Its meaning in Ukrainian is mostly very close to that of the stative треба or modal verb слід, the modal word потрібно. which can be seen from the following sentences:

«Oh, I've forgotten, I ought to have asked Iris about her cook.» (F.King)- О, а я й забув: я ж мав/ повинен був запитати Айріс про її кухарку.»

5. The modal verb need is known to have two forms of realiza­tion, e.g., that of a defective verb and that of a regular verb with modal meaning. The double morphological nature of need does not influ­ence in any way its lexical meaning, which remains in both cases identical. Hence, when used in its paradigmatic forms with the per­sonal endings or with the auxiliary verb do/does and the infinitive with the particle to, the verb need is translated in quite the same way as its defective form in the present or past tense, always maintaining the meaning of треба, потрібно, необхідно. This can be seen from the following illustrative sentences:

a) «That needs a bit of thinking.» (Christie)- «Над цим треба ще трохи подумати.»

6. The verb dare like the verb need may function in English both as a modal verb and as a regular finite verb with all its paradig­matic forms. The lexical meaning of the verb, however, remains un­changed and corresponds to the Ukrainian verbs сміти, наважуватися/відважуватися, насмілюватися.

The verb dare is mostly translated into Ukrainian as сміти, насмілюватися. For example:

She daren't come here when І was alone. (V. Pritchett) Вона не сміла/насмілювалася заходити сюди, коли я був сам.