Abstract
Based on the Cartographic Approach (Rizzi 1997, Cinque 1999), this thesis aims at investigating the syntactic properties of modal constructions in Squliq Atayal and establishing the relative order of the modals, with special reference to the R’uyan dialect. Chapter 1 is a brief introduction to the grammar of Atayal. Chapter 2 reviews previous literature on modality and the relevant questions. Chapter 3 to 5 are discussions of epistemic, deontic, and dynamic modals, focusing on their syntactic behavior and distribution. Chapter 6 is the conclusion. Semantically, we divide modals in Atayal into three classes, namely, epistemic, deontic, and dynamic, each of which can be further divided into various subtypes -- epistemic modal elements can be auxiliaries or adverbials, deontic modals are auxiliaries, and dynamic modals are verbs. Along Tsai’s (2010) three-layer theory of modals, I draw topography for the modal constructions in Atayal. Tsai proposes that epistemic, deontic, and dynamic modals correspond to the complmentizer layer, the inflectional layer, and the lexical layer, respectively. However, I propose that Atayal modal constructions are divided into two layers only; namely, epistemic modals and deontic modals correspond to the complmentizer layer, while the dynamic modals correspond to the lexical layer. This syntactic analysis is attested by the word order of modal elements in multiple modal constructions, the interaction between modals and negation, the compatibility between modals and tense/aspect markers, and the licensing of wh-indefinites. Finally, we propose a syntactic hierarchy as follows: epistemic modals > deontic modals > irrealis negation > tense > aspect (perfective, progressive) > realis negation > dynamic modals.