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'Toch' is not a modal particle in this context. There is a difference between "doe toch niet" ("oh well, don't bother, who cares), and "doe tóch niet" (actually, never mind). In the latter case, "toch" has a well-defined meaning: "alsnog" ("still"). This is also the case of the sentence in the text. |
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{{Short description|Concept in linguistics}}
In [[linguistics]], '''modal particles''' are a type of [[grammatical particle]] used in a sentence to add extra meaning, particularly in [[spoken language]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The various meanings of modal particles |url=https://learngerman.dw.com/en/the-various-meanings-of-modal-particles/l-61095657/gr-61546060 |website=learngerman.dw.com |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref> Modal particles have various functions, including adding emotion or emphasis,<ref name="Zichtbaar Nederlands">{{Cite web|url=https://zichtbaarnederlands.nl/zn/bijwoord-modale_partikels.php?taal=en|title=Modal particles: even, eens, nou, maar, misschien, ...|date=November 29, 2018|website=Zichtbaar Nederlands}}</ref> or to express how sentence content is [[grounding in communication|grounded]] in common knowledge between the speaker and participants.<ref>Fabian Bross (2012): [http://helikon-online.de/2012/Bross_Particles.pdf German modal particles and the common ground] In: Helikon. A Multidisciplinary Online Journal, 2. 182-209.</ref>
Languages that use many modal particles in their spoken form include [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Danish language|Danish]], [[German language|German]], [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[Sinitic languages]], and [[Japanese language|Japanese]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120219220327/http://dutchcentre.group.shef.ac.uk/advanced.dutch.grammar/mod_par.php?PHPSESSID=c40f574d03dcb5ffb37b8e924fde3caaAdvanced Dutch Grammar:politeness - Beleefdheid Modal particle - Modale partikels] retrieved 2009-01-01 and [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q7MVBgAAQBAJ&dq=modal+particles+chinese&pg=PT3 Modal Particles By Keith Robinson, Wang Lingli] retrieved 2015-08-04</ref> Modal particles are often context-dependent and [[untranslatability|difficult to translate]].
==Examples==
===German===
The German particle ''ja'' is used to indicate that a sentence contains information that is obvious or already known to both the speaker and the hearer. The sentence ''Der neue Teppich ist rot'' means "The new carpet is red". ''Der neue Teppich ist '''ja''' rot'' may thus mean "As we are both aware, the new carpet is red", which would typically be followed by some conclusion from this fact. However, if the speaker says the same thing upon first seeing the new carpet, the meaning is "I'm seeing that the carpet is obviously red", which would typically express surprise. In speech the latter meaning can be inferred from a strong emphasis on ''rot'' and higher-pitched voice.
===Dutch===
In Dutch, modal particles are frequently used to add mood to a sentence, especially in spoken language. For instance:<ref name="Zichtbaar Nederlands"
* Politeness
**''Kan je '''even''' het licht aandoen?'' (literally: "Can you briefly turn on the light?"
** ''Weet u '''misschien''' waar het station is?'' ("Do you perhaps know where the train station is?")<br> ''Misschien'' here denotes a very polite and friendly request: "Could you tell me the way to the train station, please?"
** ''Wil je '''soms''' wat drinken?'' ("Do you occasionally want a drink?")<br>''Soms'' here conveys a sincere interest in the answer to a question: "I'm curious if you would like to drink something?"
* Frustration
** ''Doe het toch '''
** ''Ben je '''nou''' nog niet klaar?'' ("Are you still not ready yet?")<br>''Nou'' here denotes loss of patience: "Don't tell me you still haven't finished!"
Modal particles may be combined to indicate mood in a very precise way.
* ''Luister '''dan nu''''' '''''toch maar''''' '''''eens even'''''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_for004198701_01/_for004198701_01_0036.php|title=Forum der Letteren. Jaargang 1987 · dbnl|last1=Hulshof|first1=H.|website=DBNL|publisher=dbnl|language=nl|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> ("Listen + at this moment + now + just + ''will you?'' + only once + only for a while", meaning: "Just listen, will you?")
Because of this progressive alteration these modal particles cannot move around freely when stacked in this kind of combination. However, some other modal particles can be added to the equation on any given place, such as '''gewoon''', '''juist''', '''trouwens.''' Also, replacing the "imperative weakener" '''maar''' by '''gewoon''' (indicating normalcy or acceptable behavior), changes the mood of the sentence completely, now indicating utter frustration with someone who is failing to do something very simple:
▲**''Luister '''dan nou toch gewoon eens even'''!'' ("Listen now just regularly once for a while", meaning: "For once, can you just simply listen for a minute?")
▲* [[German modal particle]]s
==References==
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{{Lexical categories|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Parts of speech]]
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