Usage et fonction des verbes d’apparence dans le discours argumentatif

Abstract

Argumentative discourse uses diverse techniques in order to meet its imperative, namely that of persuading the
audience. This paper analyses the use of two French verbs, i.e. sembler and paraître (Engl. seem) in argumentation utilizing the assets of evidentiality, a recently developed theory that investigates the linguistic expression of information source in an utterance. Within this theoretical background, these two verbs, which are traditionally related to the appearance, a subcategory of epistemic modality, may be analysed as expressing perceptive (visual) and inferential evidential meanings. This paper analyses structures incorporating sembler and paraître in order to point to the way they can be instrumental in argumentation.