Abstract

This article explores the expression of modality in Mapudungun from a functional-typological perspective. Based on both a literature review and data from original fieldwork, we establish the inventory of prototypical linguistic forms that express modality in the Mapuche language. We propose a typological classification of the language’s constructions according to the modal categories found: ontic, deontic, and epistemic. We conclude with some general remarks on modality in Mapudungun and its typological dimensions. © 2024 Universidad Catolica Silva Henriquez. All rights reserved.