Day: 10 July 2007

MODAL OPERATORS

The Meta Model looks at the language patterns we make, which are made at the surface level (click to read) to recover the deleted information.

Modal Operators fall into two categories:-

            1.    Modal Operators of Possibility 
            2.    Modal Operators of Necessity .

A Model Operator changes the way we process the information we are given, and consist of words such as:-

            “can, cannot, should, might, may, will, want, wont, have, try, possible, impossible.” et al.   

The predicate (click to read) or modal operator will affect the way the instruction is processed, and the outcome. 

            “You can go to bed,” implies that there is a possibility that they may or may not go to bed. 1. above.
            “You should go to bed,” implies that there is a possibility that they may or may not go to bed. 1. above.
            “You may go to bed,” implies that there is a possibility that they may or may not go to bed. 1. above.

            “You must go to bed,” implies that there is a necessity that they should go to bed. 2. above.
            “You have to go to bed,” implies that there is a necessity that they should go to bed. 2. above.
            “You must go to bed,” implies that there is a necessity that they should go to bed. 2. above.

Modal operators can used in the positive (can, will, must) or negative form (cannot, won’t, mustn’t). Typical challenges to these are as follows:

            “I can’t do that.” can be challenged by “What stops you?”

            “I can’t do anything right?” can be challenged by “What prevents you?”