UCL Working Papers in Linguistics 14 (2002)
Mood in relevance theory: a re-analysis
focusing on the Spanish subjunctive
MARK JARY
Accounts of non-interrogative mood in relevance theory have standardly assumed that what is encoded by these forms is
information concerning the type of world they represent: actual, possible or
potential. This paper highlights some problems with this view when it is
applied to the indicative-subjunctive contrast in Spanish. An alternative
account is proposed which makes use of a distinction, already present in
relevance theory, between assumptions presented as relevant in their own right
and those which serve to facilitate the processing of the utterance. A
comparison with other accounts of the indicative/subjunctive contrast in
Spanish is then made and broader implications for relevance theory are
discussed.
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