The Factive-reported Distinction in English (Trends in Linguistics. Studies and Monographs [TiLSM] Book 342) (Issn)

This study provides a cognitive-functional account of the factive presupposition in English. It aims to elucidate the semantics of factive complementation constructions by probing three central questions: (i) how do we explain the semantic relation between the factive complement clause and particular semantic classes of complement-taking predicates? (ii) can factive complements contain speaker-related markers of modal positioning, and if so, do these relate to the current or represented speaker-hearer interaction? (iii) how can we account for seemingly conflicting combinations of so-called factive predicates with non-factive constructional alternates? These three questions are integrated into an account that highlights the interrelations between the representational semantics of the main clause, the interpersonal semantics of the complement clause, and the coercive potential of constructional combinations. As such, the study aims to complement the dominant formal pragmatic and formal syntactic theories on factivity.

This study offers a reconceptualization of the factive presupposition. It presents a cognitive-functional account based on three central features: the event structure of semantic classes of matrix predicates, the sources of modal stances in the complement clause, and the coercive potential of predicate-complement combinations. In this way the study complements the dominant formal pragmatic and formal syntactic theories on factivity.

Contents 7 Acknowledgements 11 Figures 13 Tables 15 Abbreviations 17 1. Introduction 19 2. Prior definitions of factivity. Disparate views 26 3. Representational semantics 67 4. Interpersonal semantics. Modality 107 5. Object extraposition 156 6. The diachrony of the fact that-clauses 202 7. I regret (to say). From factive to reporting construction 223 8. Conclusions 252 References 259 Index 269