Modalni glagoli v kitajščini

The diploma thesis investigates the use, development, and nuanced semantics of selected Chinese modal verbs. In the opening chapter, I introduce the general concept of linguistic modality, reviewing its theoretical foundations in functional and generative approaches, and outlining the various classifications and terminological distinctions that appear in the literature. I then turn to a detailed analysis of selected modal verbs in Chinese, tracing their historical development from their earliest attested usages to their modern grammatical roles. In the final chapter, I examine how major socio-political transformations of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have influenced the pragmatic functions and communicative strategies associated with these modals. I show how shifts in modal verb usage correspond to changing norms of authority, individual agency, and politeness conventions.