Modality in Georgian: Methods of Teaching and Strategies for Foreign Speakers

Abstract

Modality is a semantic category which, in many languages, is rendered by polysemantic and polyfunctional forms. This means that one and the same modal form may express different modal meanings when used in different contexts and combined with different verb-forms. This is considered to be a significant, specific feature of the Georgian language due to the fact that different forms of one and the same verb, when used with the same modal form, reveal different meanings. Therefore, translating modal forms may become a challenge for the translator as this process requires taking all the semantic nuances into consideration. In order to achieve this, it is crucial to set up a subsystem based on a certain principle, to fully reflect various semantic nuances of the meaning expressed by modal forms. To set up such a subsystem is necessary for effective teaching of a foreign language and it should fully reflect this important feature of the Georgian language in the process of teaching and therefore, in textbooks.

This paper presents this subsystem together with the methods and strategies to be taken in- to consideration whilst teaching the Georgian language. More specifically, the paper will discuss the possibilities of employing this subsystem in the process of teaching Georgian as well as the typology of the exercises and relevant practice at class.