The Modal Adverbs mutlaka and kesinlikle in the Context of Directives and Deontic Modality in Turkish

The study of deontic modality has largely concentrated on the semantics of linguistic forms with little systematic discussion of its connection to pragmatics. This paper aims to sketch a deictic model for describing linguistic form in deontic modality for the purpose of linking linguistic forms to pragmatic usage within a politenesstheoretic perspective. The model is based on the idea that deontic modality may distinguish between deictic centres consisting of the speaker and the ëother.í The model is illustrated in the context of two modal adverbs in Turkish directives, namely ëmutlakaí and ëkesinlikleí. This study examines the adverbs particularly in the expression of prohibition and denial of permission and claims that the differential use of the adverbs may be explained with reference to politeness strategies such that an obligation in Turkish can involve a positive politeness strategy, while a strong prohibition calls for a negative politeness strategy. As such, a positive directive in Turkish can claim common ground by relying on circumstantial support to intensify its meaning (e.g., ëBunu mutlaka yapí), but a prohibition (e.g., Bunu yapma) is a stronger face-threatening act. Prohibition requires an intensification marker that reflects the attitude/judgment of the speaker or others, hence, the grammaticality of ëkesinlikleí.