We study the semiclassical limit of the so-called general modified nonlinea
r Schrodinger equation for initial data with Sobolev regularity, before sho
cks appear in the limit system. The strict hyperbolicity and genuine nonlin
earity are proved for the, dispersion limit of the cubic nonlinear case. Th
e limiting transition from the MNLS equation to the NT-S equation is also d
iscussed. (C) 2001 Academic Press.