THE PLACE OF THE OPTATIVE CATEGORY IN LINGUISTICS AND ITS RELATION TO OTHER MODAL CATEGORIES

Abstract

The optative category is one of the most expressive forms of modality, reflecting wishes, desires, blessings, and prayers. It occupies a special position in the linguistic system, standing in close relation to other modal categories such as imperative, subjunctive, and conditional. In Uzbek, the optative is morphologically distinct, expressed through verb endings like -gin, -sin, -aylik, while in English it survives mainly through modal auxiliaries (may, might, let) and set expressions (God save the Queen, Long live the King). This study explores the place of the optative in the general system of modality, emphasizing its grammatical, stylistic, and cultural roles. Examples from Abdulla Qahhor’s prose and O. Henry’s short stories illustrate how the optative functions as a means of conveying human emotions, desires, and hopes. The research concludes that the optative is not only a grammatical category but also a cultural and cognitive phenomenon that reveals the deep connection between language, psychology, and worldview.