%D 2014 %T Tangut 顯 跼 mjı̵1 ljı̵ı̵1, 顯 睢 mjı̵1 njwi2 ‘cannot’ and beyond %! Tangut 顯 跼 mjı̵1 ljı̵ı̵1, 顯 睢 mjı̵1 njwi2 ‘cannot’ and beyond %X Exploring a dead language such as Tangut relies heavily on Tangut-Chinese translations, thus a certain degree of uncertainty is inevitable. Due to the unavailability of natural spoken data, we can only reach to an intermediate step of grammar description. The conclusion claimed in this paper is text-oriented and based entirely on currently available textual data. However, despite our understanding of existing syntactic distinction between modal verbs and non-modal verbs, the identification of the Tangut modal verbs still depends heavily on the semantics of the corresponding Chinese texts. Hence, we may have to hold a more reserved attitude toward the question as to whether such a distinction is a natural (and internal) phenomenon of Tangut grammar. The last concern of this intermediate conclusion is, the observation and analysis of the modal verbs discussed in this paper are restricted to Tangut-Chinese translation texts. It is necessary to examine the theory proposed here with Tangut-Tibetan translation data, in pursuit of a more reliable and accurate description of Tangut syntax. %U https://doi.org/10.13173/centasiaj.57.2014.0027 %0 Journal Article %R 10.13173/centasiaj.57.2014.0027 %J Central Asiatic Journal %V 57 %N 1