Failure semantics: modality as constitutive feature in semantic sentence types

Abstract

This article proposes a characterization of a semantic sentence type based on the general modal meaning of failure. Failure is defined as a situation involving a subject's controlled action yielding an uncontrolled result (goal non-attainment). The situation components are examined. The study notes that failure expression means are highly diverse, encompassing both lexical and syntactic devices, which fully aligns with V. V. Vinogradov's assertion regarding the mixed lexico-grammatical nature of the modality semantic category. This semantics can be expressed via the predicate or the actant. Among predicative means, two types of impersonal sentences with negative resultative verbs are primarily distinguished: the impersonal-infinitive construction and the impersonal-prepositional construction. Failure semantics can also be expressed through bipartite sentences. In some instances, the failed action subject is expressed via an oblique case, while the subject position is occupied by a noun denoting the action's goal or expected result. In other instances, a bipartite construction with personal negative resultative perfective verbs is used. The study notes that this semantics can also be conveyed by the noun "failure" itself occupying an active subject position, alongside other lexical indicators such as the adverb "in vain". The problem of speaker choice among possible failure expression constructions is discussed. The study hypothesizes that this choice is conditioned by whom or what the speaker holds responsible for the failure.