Volitive modality

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]

Realisation in speech

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

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:

• Venu. ― "Come." (a request or command)
• Donu ĝin al mi. ― "Give it to me." (a request or command)
• Ni faru tion. ― "Let's do that." (a desire or aim)
• Mi iru dormi. ― "I ought to go to sleep." (expresses the desirability of the action)
• Via infano sukcesu en la vivo. ― "May your child be successful in life." (a wish or desire)
• Mi volas, ke vi helpu min. ― "I want you to help me." (a desire)
• Ŝi petas, ke mi silentu. ― "She asks that I be silent." (a request)

See also

• Volition (linguistics)