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In everyday language and for early learners, when the verb ends in おう or よう,
it is conventionally called the "volitional" form, for example:

>   1. 今夜はもうねよう (I'll just go to sleep for tonight).
>

It can also be used as sort of a hortative of sorts, such as:

>   2. 早く、学校に行こう (Hurry up, let's go to school).
>

So far, there aren't really problems with calling this form "volitional"; it
expresses a will of some sort. However, in a more literary, less
conversational context, the form can also be used to show a sort of certainty
or "the way things are" (I'm not really sure how to explain this, so hopefully
my example will help).

>   3. 光を持つ者に道は[拓]{ひら}こう (The road shall open for the one who bears the
> light). (Imagine this being written on a signpost in a video game or
> something).
>

**This is where we start to run into problems: How does this relate to the
meanings above, exactly?** We begin to see that calling it "volitional" is
more of a work-around we're using to attempt to translate something absent in
our language. There are other phrases where this categorization fails as well,
such as:

>   4. 彼が[足掻]{あが}こうが足掻くまいがどうにもならない (Whether or not he struggles, nothing will
> come of it).
>

This also introduces the issue of the negative "volitional," which, although
rarely used, does not quite carry the meaning one would expect from a form
known as the "volitional." I could mention other issues, like why we usually
translate だろう as "probably," "surely," "most likely," etc., but this question
is getting pretty long-winded as it is, so I'll ask my main question now.

**What is the actual "idea" that this form is trying to express, and how does
that lead to the interpretations of it we use in these situations?** Also, if
any of my examples are incorrect or using the form wrong, please tell me (I'm
aware they don't all sound like something someone would actually say, though).
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2016-07-08T06:02:25.340
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volitional-form
What Does the "Volitional" Really Mean?
## Same form, different meanings

What's referred to as the Volitional Form is also used to express what the
speaker imagines " _will happen_ ".

> The Volitional Form usually expresses 意思 (willingness) or 勧誘 (an invitation)
> but can also be used to mean 推測・推量 (a guess or expected result), especially
> in some kind of literary context.

## Underlying Idea

I think the common thread might be, " _expected to happen_ " or " _expected to
be the case_ ".

> In each expression there is an **expectation** of something _happening_ or
> _being the case_ based on either the intention or the guess of the
> speaker/writer; and I think that that is what this construction is meant to
> allude to.

## English Comparison

```

    "will", "shall"  
    
```

It's a little older English grammar, but it still checks out as indicating
expectation.

  * 今夜はもう **寝よう**  
(I' **ll** be off to **sleep** for tonight).

  * 早く、学校に **行こう**  
(Hurry up, **won't** (we) **go** to school?) = "let's go"

  * 彼が **足掻こう** が足掻くまいが、どうにもならない  
(Whether he **will struggle** or not, nothing will come of it).

  * 光を持つ者に道は **拓こう**  
(The road **shall open** for the one who bears the light).

## Subjunctive（仮定）usage of the Volitional Form

  * 雨が降ろう **が** 降るまい **が** 、試合が行われる  
(We will have the game, **whether** it will rain **or** not).

  * 雨が **降ろう** が降るまいが、試合が行われる  
(We will have the game, whether it **will rain** or not).

> Objective Supposition + Conditional Phrase (whether...or...)  
>  = Conditional Phrase (Subjunctive Mood)
>
> 客観的推量の意 ＋「と・が」＝ 仮定表現（仮定法）
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answer