Embodiment in modal meaning construction: The ecology of Finnish verbs of ability from a force-dynamic perspective

Abstract This paper deals with seven Finnish verbs of ability that all combine modal meaning with a specific lexical component that determines in terms of what the subject referent is able to do something, e.g. tolerance, energy, sensitivity: sietää , suvaita , tarjeta , jaksaa , tohtia , malttaa , raaskia. Through corpus-based research, the paper first provides a grammatical description for each verb, focusing on complementation, person marking, and negative affinity. Their uses are explored with regard to the types of underlying force dynamics: physical, mental, interpersonal. The study draws connections between the identified grammatical profile and the force-dynamic analysis. Correlations between experience-based ability, non-specific person marking, and physical force dynamics, as well as negative affinity, auxiliary-likeness, and mental force dynamics are observed. The specialisation patterns and interrelations between verbs are accounted for through the metaphor of ecology and niche . The analysis highlights the embodied roots and the multilayered nature of the modal meaning of ability .