Factiveness

Question

Considering the dichotomy as shown below,
To which side does the verb 'state' belong?

# A verb that asserts the truth of a following clause is a factive verb
e.g. I know that you were overchargedIregret that you were overcharged

#These verbs contrast with non-factive verbs which leave the proposition open
e..g. I believe he was overcharged.

## He stated categorically that he knew nothing about the deal.

It looks like belonging to the non-factive verb group at a glance.
However the subordinate clause makes it seem to be the fact such as some kind of happening in the past when thinking of it as the reporting.
So, I can't make it clear. What is your answer?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I would say non-factive, based simply on your definition, which deals only with verbs and says nothing about adverbs or subordinate clauses.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

cho7712A verb that asserts the truth of a following clause is a factive verb

This definition is a little loose. A verb that implies that (i.e., can only be used correctly when) the speaker is committed to the truth of the proposition in the complement clause is a factive verb.

Suppose that I, the speaker, know that it is raining now. I say

John doesn't realize that it is raining.

To use the verb 'realize', I have to be committed to the truth of "It is raining", so 'realize' is a factive verb.
In other words, it makes no sense to make any claim about what John doesn't realize if I don't know for a fact (as a truth) what it is that he doesn't realize.
______________

With a little thought you can see that no verb of reporting can be factive. When I, the speaker, say any of the following sentences, for example, I don't have to be committed to the truth of the complement clause (It is raining). I might think Karen is lying, in fact.

Karen says it's raining.
Karen tells me it's raining.
Karen stated that it was raining.
Karen reported that it was raining.
Karen declared that it was raining.

So the verbs say, tell, state, report, declare, ... are all non-factive.

CJ

By the way, you headed your post with "Factiveness". The usual word is not that, but "Factivity". At least that's what the semanticist Lyons calls it.

CJ

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you, Clive and CJ.

And

CalifJimthe speaker is committed to the truth of the proposition in the complement clause is a factive verb.

This, a more accurate definition, is very helpful. It is the commitment of the speaker that I've never thought of as the very point.
And thanks for the tip of what glossary should be used.

Factiveness

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