This article will address the topic of Volitive modality from different perspectives and approaches, in order to provide a comprehensive and detailed vision of this currently relevant issue. Historical, cultural, social and economic aspects related to Volitive modality will be analyzed, as well as focusing on its impact on people's daily lives. Through exhaustive research and the collection of relevant information, the aim is to offer the reader a deep and up-to-date understanding of Volitive modality, with the aim of expanding their knowledge and generating reflections on this topic.
Volitive modality (abbreviated VOL) is a linguistic modality that indicates the desires, wishes or fears of the speaker. It is classified as a subcategory of deontic modality.[1]
Volitive moods are a category of grammatical moods that are used to express volitive modality. Examples are the optative, desiderative and imprecative moods.[1] However, many languages (like English) have other ways to express volitive modality, for example modal verbs ("Wish that you were here!", "May he live forever!").
Esperanto has a volitive verb form that is formed by adding a -u to the verb stem and used to indicate that an action or state is desired, requested, ordered, or aimed for.[2] The verb form is formally called volitive,[3][4] but in practice, it can be seen as a broader deontic form, rather than a pure volitive form, since it is also used to express orders and commands besides wishes and desires.
Examples:
U-formo montras, ke la ago aŭ stato ne estas reala, sed dezirata, volata, ordonata aŭ celata.[a U form shows that the action or state is not real, but desired, wanted, ordered, or aimed for.]