Multifunctionality of evidential expressions in discourse domains and genresEvidence from cross-linguistic case studies

Resumen

This paper examines the phenomenon of multifunctionality of evidential expressions in unscripted oral discourse and in journalistic discourse in English and Spanish. The paper examines the distribution of evidential expressions in relation to discourse-domain, genre-related or language-related distinctions, as well as the similarities or differences in multifunctionality of evidential expressions in the two languages, and the degree to which certain evidential values are associated with particular constructions. Results point to significant similarities across languages in both genre-related preferred types of evidential expressions, and to certain cross-linguistic differences in the degree to which there are correlations between evidential values and evidential constructions