Bohemica Olomucensia

Means of expressing conditional and semblance by jako by and jakoby

In this paper I concern with expressions jako by and jakoby, which are competing with each other. In some contexts it is difficult to distinguish, if the used form of expression was adequate to described reality, that means if 1) potentiality of some process (jako by) or 2) comparison to something or uncertainty of language user (jakoby) should be and was expressed. Thus, in this paper I explore different factors (on different language levels) that can influence the way of notation jako by vs. jakoby in some specific contexts and that can lead to communication problems/misunderstanding. I analyse primarily situations, when the part of conditional form is substituted with the expression jakoby, but some opposing situations as well, and I explore, if the modality (expressed with conditional in standard way) can be delegated on the expression jakoby, and the measure of semantic modification related with this. As jakoby is spreading into different functional styles, undoubtedly under the influence of its high frequency in spoken language, expressions mentioned above are analysed particularly in written journalism.