Modal operators

Modal operator verbs give more information about the function of the main verb that follows it. Although having a great variety of communicative functions, these functions can all be related to a scale ranging from possibility (can) to necessity (must). Modal operators are intuitively characterised by expressing a modal attitude, such as necessity (modal verbs: have to, must, should) or possibility (can, might, may) towards the proposition which it is applied to. They can also appear in the contracted negated form (e.g. shouldn't, can't, mustn't).

The modal operator of necessity

In the English language there exists a certain class of words known as Modal Operators which, when used in our linguistic communication, often reveal useful information about our rules for life, the boundaries of our models of the world and the ways in which we motivate ourselves to action.

One set of these Modal Operators is the set known as Modal Operators of Necessity, examples of which include words such as:-

• Should / Shouldn't
• Must / Must not
• Need to / Needn't
• Have to / Don't have to.
• Ought to / Ought not

(e.g. must, should, ought to, have to, its necessary to, ...) expresses an absolute (often moral) obligation, order or requirement.

• Example 1: "I must redeem myself."
• Response: What would happen if you didn't redeem yourself?

The modal operators of necessity, shall/should, in 1st person objective though not moral obligation, no choice, as in:

• Example 2: "I should make an effort."
• Response: "What would happen if you didn't make an effort?"

• Example 3 (negated): "I shouldn't do that."
• Response: "What would happen if you did?"

Modal Operators of Necessity are generalisations which tend to imply strict rules and a lack of choice for the speaker / writer. They also tend to be digital in nature i.e. either one thing or the other, on or off, black or white.

We can directly challenge Modal Operators of Necessity using Meta Model responses and so assist the speaker in gaining access to choices which previously they were unaware of or thought were unavailable to them.

Surface Structures which include Modal Operators of Necessity frequently take the form:- 1. I need to do my homework 2. I must join the family business 3. I have to go to work 4. I really shouldn't be doing this

The Deep Structures for each of the above Surface Structures has been subjected to a significant deletion. Each Surface Structure makes the claim that something MUST happen (or not happen in the case of number 4). As native speakers of English the question that arises in response to these surface structures, aimed at recovering the deleted material is 'Or what?'.

Expanding upon this simple question a little leads us to a general form of Meta Model response question which can be used to challenge Modal Operators of Necessity:-

What would happen if you didn't (or did) X? Where X is the subject of the original surface structure i.e.:- 1. What would happen if you didn't do your homework? 2. What would happen if you didn't join the family business? 3. What would happen if you didn't go to work? 4. What would happen if you did do this?

In order to respond to our question the person we're communicating with has to at least consider the possibility of that which they until now had either considered impossible or even had not considered at all.

Forced to actually consider 'what would happen if...' a person may make a number of discoveries including:- 1. Their generalisation doesn't hold true and that there is nothing stopping them from making this choice 2. Their generalisation does hold true but they can make necessary changes which will allow them to have this choice anyway 3. They are able to identify alternative choices which would facilitate them in achieving their outcome or an alternative satisfactory outcome

Modal operator of possibility

The presence of Modal Operators of Necessity when people communicate with each other linguistically implies a world where choice is not an option.

The world of 'got to', 'have to' and 'must' is a world of force, pressure and obligation.

Modal Operators of Possibility on the other hand imply a world of options, opportunities and choice. Modal Operators of Possibility include words such as:-

• Possible / Impossible
• Can / Cannot
• Will / Will not
• May / May not
• Choose to / Choose not to

Words like cannot and impossible often indicate that the person using them has beliefs about the world which limit their behaviour or prevent them from accessing certain choices in their lives.

Phrases which include Modal Operators of Possibility often take the form:-

• I can't learn how to do that
• That's simply impossible for me
• I'll never be able to beat my record
• I have no choice

We can use Meta Model responses to challenge the limiting generalisations implied by the Modal Operators of Possibility to change cannot into can, change impossible into possible and so on. Two Meta Model questions of appropriate form for this type of challenge are:- 1. What specifically stops you from X? 2. What would happen if you did X?

Where X is the subject of the original surface structure i.e.:-

• What specifically stops you from learning how to do that?
• What specifically stops that from being possible for you?
• What would happen if you did beat your record?
• What would happen if you did have choice?

Forced to actually consider 'what would happen if...' or to identify specific obstacles which they believe prevent them from having choice, a person can make a number of discoveries including:- 1. Their generalisation doesn't hold true and that there is nothing stopping them from making this choice 2. Their generalisation does hold true but they can make necessary changes which will allow them to have this choice anyway 3. They are able to identify alternative choices which would facilitate them in achieving their outcome or an alternative satisfactory outcome

The modal operators of possibility (e.g. can, could, might, may, its possible to, ...) expresses intention, permission, option or choice.

• Example 1: "I can/could/might/may/will do it later."
• Response: What would happen if you didn't do it later?

• Example 2: "I can't/couldn't/won't put myself together."
• Response: "What would happen if you did?", "What would happen if you didn't?"

Sources: http://nlpglossary.blogspot.com/search/label/Modal%20Operators http://home.earthlink.net/~nlper999/miltmod.html#nom http://www.microdot.net/nlp/precise-communication/

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