Evidentiality

Evidentiality is a term in linguistics referring to a type of modality. Evidentiality allows (or requires) speakers to specify why they believe a given statement—i.e. what kind of evidence they have for it. These kinds of evidence might be divided into such categories as:

• Direct experience
• Sensory observation (especially visual)
• Inference or supposition (including confidence)
• Hearsay

Evidentiality is often expressed as an affix or auxiliary verb.

Examples of evidentiality in English

Consider these English sentences:

• I am hungry.
• Bob is hungry.

We are unlikely to say the second unless someone (perhaps Bob himself) has told us that Bob is hungry. If we are simply assuming that Bob is hungry based on the way he looks, we are more likely to say something like:

• Bob looks hungry.
• Bob seems hungry.

Here, the fact that we are relying on sensory evidence, rather than direct experience, is conveyed by our use of the word look or seem.

Another type of evidentiality is expressed in English with adverbs. Consider the differences between:

• It'll be OK.
• It'll probably be OK.

The probably communicates that while the speaker believes it will be OK, she is not entirely certain.

External links

• 'What is Evidentiality?' at SIL.org