The so-called evidential suffix -dir in Tyvan: explanation from the perspective of the speaker's and the hearer's knowledge

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  • トゥバ語の証拠性を表すとされる接辞 -dirの機能 : 話し手・聞きの認識から説明
  • トゥバ語の証拠性を表すとされる接辞-dirの機能 : 話し手・聞き手の認識からの説明
  • トゥバゴ ノ ショウコセイ オ アラワス ト サレル セツジ-dir ノ キノウ : ハナシテ ・ キキテ ノ ニンシキ カラ ノ セツメイ

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Abstract

This paper examines the function of so-called evidential suffix -dir in sentences with a nominal predicate. Contrary to the view of Anderson and Harrison (1999), the suffix -dir is not an obligatory marker in nominal predicate clauses. I propose the following rule for the use of the suffix -dir in wh-questions: The suffix -dir is not used when the speaker expects the hearer to answer based on their pre-existing knowledge. The suffix -dir is used when the speaker does not expect the hearer to answer based on their pre-existing knowledge. The Tyvan suffix -dir is differently used in verbal predicate and nominal predicate sentences. With a verbal predicate, the suffix -dir functions as an evidental marker indicating inferential, nonvisual sensory, or psychological state. With a nominal predicate, the function of the suffix -dir should be considered as a knowledge update marker in a discourse. No other Turkic languages seem to have a functionally equivalent marker, but the Japanese explanation modality marker noda is comparable since it is also sensitive to the knowledge of the speaker and the hearer in an actual discourse.

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