Conclusiones

Modal adjectives are evaluative adjectives expressing a modal force. Also adjectives belonging to the modal category can be vague, if there is no clear specification of a normative ordering source. As a matter of fact: ―when the ordering source for a modal adjective is unspecified, the modal phrase is vague, and the adjective will be responsible for its vagueness.‖ (Fjeld 2005: 167).

Modal adjectives are speaker-oriented adjectives expressing a modal force ranging from necessity to desirability. The adjectives found in SCRIraq1 are listed in Table 37 on the basis of Fjeld‘s (2005: 165) classification of modal adjectives:

Modal Adjectives Used in SCRIraq1

Modal Adjectives Frequency

Essential 11

155

Table 37: Modal adjectives in the Iraq corpus

After a close analysis of these adjectives in their context, it has been noticed that apart from the typical deontic modality, many of the modal adjectives used in SCRIraq1 can be categorised as expressing teleological or circumstantial modality. Circumstantial modality is concerned with what is ―possible or necessary, given a particular set of circumstances‖, while teleological modality concerns what ―means are possible or necessary for achieving a particular goal‖ (Coates 1983: 18).

The deontic modality expressed by modal adjectives in this corpus is based on a set of moral or legal principles, while the function of issuing directives, permissions or obligations is left to modal verbs.

The modal adjective ‗necessary‘ has the highest frequency in the corpus. It is related to what is

―needed for a purpose or a reason or that must exist or happen and cannot be avoided‖ In order to weigh the degree of vagueness of this adjective, its use in context is shown in Table 38 and Table 39, the first including occurrences of ‗necessary‘ expressing teleological modality, while the second includes the occurrences of the modal expressing circumstantial modality:

Rank KWIC

1 the Security Council, including any clarification necessary for the implementation of resolution 1284 1999);

2 on 678 (1990) authorized Member States to use all necessary means to uphold and implement its resolution 660 3 esolution 687 (1991) imposed obligations on Iraq as a necessary step for achievement of its stated objective of r 4 s of Iraq addressed to the Secretary-General is a necessary first step toward rectifying Iraq‘s continued failure 5 Calls on Iraq immediately to take the decisions necessary in the interests of its people and the region; 3.

6 1995) on an exceptional and reimbursable basis as necessary to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian 7 costs of milling, transportation and other costs necessary to facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian 8 by providing food, medical supplies, and resources necessary for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq‘s e 9 the Authority, including by taking the following necessary measures: (a) to facilitate as soon as possible t 10 which recourse to such proceeds or obligations is necessary to satisfy liability for damages assessed in conn 11 blished under resolution 687 (1991) are no longer necessary to protect against threats to international security 12 inational force under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of secu 13 ty in Iraq, including for the purpose of ensuring necessary conditions for the implementation of the timetable 14 needs of the Iraqi people by providing resources necessary for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq 15 tional force shall have the authority to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of secu

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16 and bilateral donors to take the immediate steps necessary to provide their full range of loans and other fi

Table 38: Concordances of teleological ‗necessary‘ in SCRIraq1

R KWIC

1 urges for its implementation and to considerany necessary adjustment and further decides that the first success 2 that the first such review and consideration of necessary adjustment shall be conducted prior to the end of 3 include in the report recommendations on any necessary revision of the Goods Review List and its procedure 4 Ton 5 December 2002; 2. Decides to consider) necessary adjustments to the Goods Review List (S/2002/515 5 d to include in the report recommendations on any necessary revision of the Goods Review List and its procedure 6 rn Standard Time, on 5 December 2002 and consider necessary adjustments to the Goods Review List (S/2002/515 7 egur agenda and recommend to the Security Council necessary additions to, and/or deletions from, the Goods Re 8 population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if 9 o undertake as an urgent first step, and with the necessary coordination, the following measures: (a) to establish 10 -direct shipments of goods to those locations, as necessary ; (b) to review, as a matter of urgency, the approval 11 he precise location of contracted goods and, when necessary , to require suppliers to delay, accelerate or div 12 r divert shipments; (d) to negotiate and agree on necessary adjustments in the terms or conditions of these c 13 raphs 8 (a) and (b) of resolution 986 (1995), as necessary and appropriate, to compensate suppliers and ship 14 eneral to perform additional functions with the necessary coordination as soon as the situation permits as 15 in need of assistance and to make available all necessary facilities for their operations and to promote the 16 arian relief of the people of Iraq, including, as necessary , negotiating adjustments in the terms or condition 17 gotiating, in the most cost effective manner, any necessary settlement payments, which shall be made from the 18 that all States shall take any steps that may be necessary under their respective domestic legal systems to 19 ption and to consider further steps that might be necessary ; 26. Calls upon Member States and international a 20 including by providing international experts and necessary resources through a coordinated programme of dono 21 such agreements and other arrangements as may be necessary in this regard, and requests creditors, institute

Table 39: Concordances of circumstantial ‗necessary in SCRIraq1

Most occurrences of ‗necessary‘ express a teleological modality, which, by specifying a goal, give a broad degree of limit to what is ‗necessary‘:

(139) 28. Welcomes the commitments of many creditors, including those of the Paris Club, to identify ways to reduce substantially Iraq‘s sovereign debt, calls on Member States, as well as international and regional organizations, to support the Iraq reconstruction effort, urges the international financial institutions and bilateral donors to take the immediate steps necessary to provide their full range of loans and other financial assistance and arrangements to Iraq, recognizes that the Interim Government of Iraq will have the authority to conclude and implement such agreements and other arrangements as may be necessary in this regard, and requests creditors, institutions and donors to work as a priority on these matters with the Interim Government of Iraq and its successors […].(S/RES/1518 (2003))

157

(140) Recognizing that the continued operation of UNIKOM and a demilitarized zone established under resolution 687 (1991) are no longer necessary to protect against threats to international security posed by Iraqi actions against Kuwait […]. (S/RES/1490 (2003))

Although many occurrences indicate the purposes for which something or an action is necessary, the word still retains its subjective nature of interpretation. This can be seen especially when ‗necessary‘ is used as an adjective. The following Table 40 shows the frequency of the ‗necessary + noun‘ pattern:

Frequency of the

Table 40: Clusters of the ‗necessary+ noun‘ pattern in SCRIraq1

Some occurrences of ‗necessary‘ in SCRIraq1 have been notoriously criticised for their subjective interpretability and vagueness. The examples below are alleged to have given the possibility of using military intervention in Iraq, because expressions such as ‗all necessary measures‘ or ‗all necessary means‘ allow infinite interpretations:

(141) 10. Decides that the multinational force shall have the authority to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq […].(S/RES/1518 (2003))

(142) 8. Urges all parties concerned, consistent with the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Regulations, to allow full unimpeded access by international humanitarian organizations to all people of Iraq in

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need of assistance and to make available all necessary facilities for their operations and to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel and their assets, as well as personnel of humanitarian organizations in Iraq in meeting such needs […]. (S/RES/1472 (2003))

Another use of ‗necessary‘ is with circumstantial modality. The vagueness of the adjective per se, added to its circumstantial use, gives a degree of open-endedness to the paragraph, which could be adapted for future necessities, as has been alleged to have happened for S/RES/678 (1990):

(143) 25. Decides to review the implementation of this resolution within twelve months of adoption and to consider further steps that might be necessary […]. (S/RES/1483 (2003))

(144) 16. Requests also that the Secretary-General […]:

(a) to facilitate as soon as possible the shipment and authenticated delivery of priority civilian goods as identified by the Secretary-General and representatives designated by him, in coordination with the Authority and the Iraqi interim administration, under approved and funded contracts previously concluded by the previous Government of Iraq, for the humanitarian relief of the people of Iraq, including, as necessary, negotiating adjustments in the terms or conditions of these contracts and respective letters of credit as set forth in paragraph 4 (d) of resolution 1472 (2003); […]. (S/RES/1483 (2003))

In SCRIraq1, circumstantial modality is further expressed by means of ‗if‘, ‗whether‘ and the adjective

‗possible‘. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, ‗if‘ is used to say that ―something can, will or might happen or be true, depending on another thing happening or being true‖, while the more formal ‗whether‘ is used to ―express a doubt or choice between two possibilities.‖ ‗Possible‘ has several definitions expressing different types of modality. If it expresses something ―being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization‖ it expresses dynamic modality; if it describes ―something that may or may not occur‖ it expresses a circumstantial modality and if it is used to indicate ―something that may or may not be true or actual‖ it expresses an epistemic modality.

In SCRIraq1, all occurrences of ‗if‘, ‗whether‘ and ‗possible‘ have a circumstantial meaning:

(145) 4. Endorses the proposed timetable for Iraq‘s political transition to democratic government including:

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(c) holding of direct democratic elections by 31 December 2004 if possible, and in no case later than 31 January 2005, to a Transitional National Assembly, which will, inter alia, have responsibility for forming a Transitional Government of Iraq and drafting a permanent constitution for Iraq leading to a constitutionally elected government by 31 December 2005 […]. (S/RES/1546 (2004))

(146) 3. Decides that the mandate of the Committee referred to in paragraph 1 above will be kept under review and to consider the possible authorization of the additional task of observing Member States‘ fulfilment of their obligations under paragraph 10 of resolution 1483 (2003) […].

(S/RES/1518 (2003))

Thus, the actual meaning of all these modal adjectives depends on the interpretation that is given by the ordering source.