Implementation of Category of Evidentiality in Analytical Article of English-Language Quality Press

Abstract

The ways of explication of evidentiality in analytical articles of the English-language press are investigated. 30 articles of newspapers “The Washington Post”, “The Guardian”, “The Independent” for 2021 are analyzed. The classification of evidential values is presented on the basis of two indicators: the source of information and its degree of reliability. Three types of evidentiality have been identified: direct evidentiality (there is a clear indication of the source of information); impersonal evidentiality (lack of an identified source of information); author’s evidentiality (based on the author’s conclusions). The results of the study showed a significant superiority of direct evidentiality (74 %), realized through the precise indication of the source of information and the use of the author’s “we”. It was revealed that impersonal evidentiality is not typical for an analytical article (6 %). This is due to its specific characteristics: the desire for objectivity and transparency of the data provided. It is noted that this type of evidentiality is realized through adverbs, indicating an anonymous source and using collective nouns. It is shown that the author’s evidentiality is found in 20 % of cases and is realized through filler words, main sentences like that means, adverbs, impersonal sentences using verbs of perception, constructions “to be + adjective with a probability value”, modal verbs.