Metatexts about the function epistemic modality (based on encyclicals of John Paul II)

Abstract

Among numerous, formally and functionally diverse metatextual formulas present in encyclicals of John Paul II important place is occupied by metatexts about the function of epistemic modality. They form a significant for this type of official documents of the Church papal and original truthful commentary to formulated judgments and presented state of affairs. The performed analyses allowed to extract formulas with the function of certain modality (metatexts confirming truthfulness entering information without lexical exponents of certainty) and metatexts expressing sender’s confidence regarding truthfulness provided propositions, with lexical exponents such a judgment of reality), as well as metatexts with the function of possible modality. Inside the mentioned groups there have been separated more specific functional and meaning groups of surveyed metatextual formulas.