Use of "should"

[hkBattousai]

Increasing the buffer will reduce disk activity but at the risk of higher data loss should problems occur.

Sometimes I encounter a different use of "should", as used in the above sentence.

Is this sentence correct?
If so, can you explain this other meaning of "should" here?

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Yes, the sentence is correct. In that sentence "should" means "if".

It's interesting, isn't it? If you think of "should" meaning "ought to", then it doesn't make much sense, but if you think of "should" being similar to "would" this usage might be easier to understand....?

 

[Hirohurl]

Hi!

Yes, it is correct. In this case it is close in meaning to "IF"...

There is a higher risk of data loss IF problems occur...

 

[hkBattousai]

I think some modals have 'original' meanings in English.

For example, "will" means "wish" and "desire". When you say
"I will do this tomorrow."
you mean
"I wish to do this tomorrow. (I wish, so it will be done)"

This is another example of mine :
"It is going to rain."
means
"Clouds gathered, it became darker. It will probably go and be a rainy state."

What do you think of that?

 

[ghost1374]

Yup you got the idea!