View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

(You only have to translate the first paragraph)
SECONDARY MEANINGS OF THE AFRIKAANS MODAL AUXILIARIES
Van Schoor (1983:150) accedes that boundaries between pnmary and
secondary lexical meanings do not occur at the same place for everybody. However,
he sees the following as secondary meanings:
MAO
"moontlikheid" (possibility)
Hy mag in die eksamen slaag, maar ek twyfel dit sterk.
(He may pass the examination, but I strongly doubt it)
A sort ofacceptance i.e. one can accept that it is usually expressed:
"Teen hierdie tyd sal hy nie meer daar wees nie.
(By this time he will no longer be there)
Sal (shall) and sou (would) are often used as aids in characterization.( Van
Schoor 1983:150)
Hy sal ure lank na die see sit en kyk.
(He will sit for hours looking at the sea)
Hy kan vreeslik skrik as jy skielik sy naam noem.
(He can be terribly frightened ifyou suddenly call his name)
Each modal auxiliary verb has idiomatic uses in a very particular meaning,
which is sometimes very difficult to identifY e.g. "onafwendbaarheid" (inevitability)
"Ouer sal hy sv seker word, maar gemoedelik nooit.
(Older she will become, but good-natured never)
"hoflikheid" (politeness) and "ingetoenheid" (modesty):
107