%0 Journal Article %A Cappelle, Bert %A Depraetere, Ilse %T Short-circuited interpretations of modal verb constructions: Some evidence from The Simpsons %D 2016 %J Constructions and Frames %V 8 %N Modal Meaning in Construction Grammar %P 7-39 %@ 1876-1933 %R https://doi.org/10.1075/cf.8.1.02cap %K modal verb constructions %K language humour %K saturation %K semantics-pragmatics interface %K modal meaning %K short-circuited implicature %K The Simpsons %I John Benjamins %X In this paper we aim to show how distinct semantic and pragmatic layers of modal interpretation can be fruitfully integrated within a constructionist approach. We discuss in detail a number of cases from the Simpsons where a modal verb, as part of a longer expression, has a short-circuited interpretation, that is, where it is conventionally associated with a context-specific modal semantic value and, in some cases, with added pragmatic information. Short-circuitedness is evidenced by the humorous effect that is obtained when a character wilfully or unknowingly ignores standard aspects of interpretation of such a modal verb construction. %U https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/cf.8.1.02cap