This was the opening clause of the Scotland Act 1998 which led the following
year to the establishment of the first Scottish Parliament since 1707.
What I like most in this Scotland capital sentence is the use of
shall, instead of
will or
must. Attending the finner nuances of this words
:
Must: Could be understood as a kind of obligation, more than a desirable option.
Will: Could be understood as a future promise, but with no success guarranted.
So why is used shall, a verb that I have always understood as probability. Copying from WordReference:
shall /ʃæl/ , weak forms /ʃlʲ/ , /ʃəl/ v mod (past should)
- (with 1st person)
- (in statements about the future): I/we ~ be very interested to see what happens
- (making suggestions, asking for assent) The present tense is used in this type of question in Spanish ~ I open/close the window?
- (with 2nd and 3rd persons) (in commands, promises etc): they ~ not pass no pasarán;
thou shalt not steal
( Bib ) no robarás.
So, used with 3d persons, shall means commands, and promises. As strong as biblical ones.