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Frequency differences in reportative exceptionality and how to account for them: A case study on verbal reportative markers in French, Dutch and German.

Authors :
Mortelmans, Tanja
Source :
Studies in Language. 2024, Vol. 48 Issue 3, p682-722. 41p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Reportative evidential markers are – in contrast to other evidential markers – compatible with distancing interpretations, in which the speaker denies the truth of what is being reported. This exceptional behaviour of reportatives is termed 'reportative exceptionality' (AnderBois 2014). In this paper, which addresses French, Dutch and German reportative markers, we argue that they differ with respect to the frequency with which such distancing interpretations actually arise. The French reportative conditionnel most frequently occurs with distancing interpretations, whereas German sollen hardly occurs with this function. Dutch zou takes up an intermediate position. It is claimed that the higher compatibility of the conditionnel with distancing interpretations can be accounted for by a number of factors: its general preference for contexts in which other perspectives than the speaker's are highly salient; the fact that it has past tense morphology; and its general semantic make-up in which the marking of hypotheticality is a key function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03784177
Volume :
48
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Studies in Language
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
176989559
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.23014.mor