Corpus Analysis of Evidential Verbs SAGEN and BEHAUPTEN in Modern German-Language Media Discourse

Abstract

The semantic and morphological features of the evidential verbs of speech sagen (speak) and behaupten (assert), introducing statements with direct, indirect and fragmentary quotes in the German-language media discourse are discussed in the article. The study is based on the material of the Mannheim Corps of the German Language “COSMAS II”. The empirical material is the newspapers “Die Welt”, “Suddeutsche Zeitung”, and “Tageszeitung”. Attention is paid to one of the components of the category of evidentiality - reported evidentiality, which includes the meanings of ‘quotative’ and ‘hearsay’. A classification of the most significant sources of information is proposed. The results of a comparative analysis of the verbs sagen and behaupten are presented. It is concluded that the verb sagen is the most frequent and neutral verb introducing someone else's speech. The authors note that when transmitting indirect and fragmented citation, sagen usually means ‘individual personal quotative’ based on official and reliable sources. It is proved that the verb behaupten is a marked means of direct, indirect and fragmented quotes. It is emphasized that the verb behaupten is possible as an introductory verb when transmitting the meanings ‘generalized quotation’ and ‘rumors’.