Marking the source of information in language: a terminological aspect

Abstract

Background. The analysis of terms related to the verbalization of information source in an utterance is not usually the subject of explicit discussion, although, in our opinion, it would help with a more effective differentiation between the concepts “verbalization of information source” (evidentiality) and “verbalization of the degree of information reliability” (epistemic modality), indistinction of which leads to confusion between two different (albeit related) linguistic phenomena.Contribution to the research field. Apart from potentially improving the level of terminological accuracy, these findings have important implications for exploring the semantic volume of the evidential category and developing an in-depth classification of evidentials as linguistic units with complex semantics.Purpose. To describe a number of terms for the verbalization of an information source in language, as well as to draw conclusions about the acceptability of their use for describing certain fragments of linguistic reality.Methods. The method of linguistic observation, component analysis and comparative method are used. The research results are presented using the descriptive method.Results. For classification of the terms under observation, it seems reasonable to employ the “‘pure’ evidentiality – epistemic modality” scale. In Ukrainian studies, the term “evidentiality” became widespread only at the beginning of the 21st century. In terms of frequency of use, it “competes” with the term “perepovidnist,” which (like the less common term “zaochnist”), however, is not equivalent to the term “evidentiality” (due to significant differences in the terms’ semantic volumes). Out of all the terms analysed, the term “zasvidchenist” is the only one which not just replicates the semantic volume of the term “evidentiality,” but also its internal form.Discussion. The appropriateness of the usage of the terms related to datasource marking in language depends on the semantic volume of this category, as well as the characteristics of the category’s functioning in a specific language. In the following studies, terminological systems of evidentiality in different national linguistics might be analysed.