Craig,
I agree with you, and, while there is a history of language instruction that has structured our usage, I see a natural arch in our common usage of verbs that moves from intention with the infinitive form through the consideration of action depending on different conditions to the realization of the act as it becomes part of being, history, and a perfected quality.  In considering the probability of our intentions coming to fruition, can helps us consider our ability to carry them out, will focuses on the force of our intention, and shall addresses a sense of obligation created by circumstances around us.  Could, would, and should focus more on the situations that might have an effect upon what happens.  These usages serve our need to allow our imaginations to grapple with our intentions over time in order to help us realize who we want to be in this world.
Given the limited number of words we can bring to this task, there will be multiple purposes served by these terms, giving language the strength and flexibility that comes from being ambiguous and connected to different frameworks.  But, for teaching grammar as a tool that empowers us to take action, I like seeing shall as turning our attention to outside forces that may affect our choices.

Gregg


On Jun 5, 2011, at 1:49 PM, Craig Hancock wrote:

John,
    In this case, I think "shall" denotes obligation rather than
determination, maybe as an attempt to soften the order. It's
interesting that it's also passive. What I see in many restaurant
restrooms is "Employees must wash hands before returning to work." It
seems to me this is intended to do the same work (lay down the rule)
without appearing to be dictatorial.

Craig


Here is Random House's basic summary of "shall" usage:

The traditional rule of usage guides dates from the 17th century and says
that to denote future time shall  is used in the first person ( I shall
leave. We shall go ) and will  in all other persons ( You will be there,
won't you? He will drive us to the airport. They will not be at the
meeting ).
The rule continues that to express determination, will  is used in the
first
person ( We will win the battle ) and shall  in the other two persons (
You
shall not bully us. They shall not pass ). Whether this rule was ever
widely
observed is doubtful. Today, will  is used overwhelmingly in all three
persons and in all types of speech and writing both for the simple future
and to express determination. Shall  has some use in all persons, chiefly
in
formal writing or speaking, to express determination: I shall return. We
shall overcome. Shall  also occurs in the language of laws and directives:
All visitors shall observe posted regulations.  Most educated native users
of American English do not follow the textbook rule in making a choice
between shall  and will.

shall. (n.d.). *Dictionary.com Unabridged*. Retrieved June 04, 2011, from
Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shall

John

On Sat, Jun 4, 2011 at 10:09 PM, Kathleen Ward <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I've always heard it called the deonatic use ofnthe modal -- something
that imposes an obligation on the hearer of an utterance.  It is a
characteristic of modals in English that they have both deonatic and
epistemically (degree of certainty) uses.

Kathleen M. Ware.

University of California, Davis


On Saturday, June 4, 2011, Jane Saral <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Friends have just returned from their annual pilgrimage to Ashland,
Oregon, and on one flight they saw a sign in the flight attendants' area
that said, "Hands shall be washed before serving food or drink."



What is this use of "shall" called?

Jane Saral
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