Divergencia en la expresión de modalidad epistémica y deóntica en tres lenguas polinésicas

The aim of this article is to provide a first approach to the phenomenon of divergence by borrowing in the modality category in three Polynesian languages. Thus, we revised some forms originated by borrowing to express certain modal values in Rapa Nui and explored whether this phenomenon occurs in other two Polynesian languages with similar sociolinguistic features: Tahitian and Māori. Following a functional approach, we described concisely the manners these languages use to express epistemic and deontic modality, based on examples obtained from grammatical descriptions of those languages, as well as examples from a Rapa Nui corpus. We conclude that, in the case of the modality category, Rapa Nui presents divergence due to its contact to Spanish. Similarly, we present these results in the light of Matras proposals about borrowing in the TAM categories.