Subjectivity in the subordination process: the expression of evidentiality
Keywords:
syntax, functionalist-cognitive approach, subordination, evidentiality, conceptual integration.Abstract
In this paper, we intend to reflect on the subordination process based on a functionalist-cognitive approach. For this, we analyze syntactic constructions in which the main clause predicator is a speech act verb, a mental activity verb or a perception verb. One of the pragmatic functions of these constructions is to express evidentiality, which is basically the
indication of the information source contained in a sentence. Evidentiality allows the Speaker to manage information in order to preserve his/her face and also allows the Addresser to assess
the reliability of this information. We take the evidentiality expression as a functionality of the subordination process in order to rethink the teaching of syntax as a tool for an effective
development of students’ communicative abilities.