SEMANTIC AND PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF OBVIOUSLY AND APPARENTLY

Abstract

In this paper we are going to show how disjuncts obviously and apparently from the same category of truth-orientated disjuncts behave in different contexts. We are also going to measure the frequency of their occurrence, determine the meanings they convey and observe the position they take. Both disjuncts ‘present comment on the truth value of what is said, expressing the extent to which, and the conditions under which, the speaker believes that what is saying is true' (Quirk et al, 1985:p.620). The primary function of these two is to modify the whole sentence, but they can also highlight the meaning of the modal expression they are used with. The comment expressed by obviously does not intend to convince the interlocutor to trust the speaker's judgement but to act as an eye-opener for interlocutors to discern the truth themselves based on the evidence given. The comment expressed by apparently relies either on speaker's perception of things or someone else's perception which is not to be believed blindly without questioning. In other words, apparently ’qualifies claims based on reported information and inference' (Rozumko, 2019). Hence conviction expressed by it drifts from the truth conveying a certain degree of doubt.

Keywords

• obviously
• apparently
• truth value of the proposition
• judgements
• convictions