Pragmatic functions of perception verbs
Keywords:
Perception verbs, pragmatics, stanceAbstract
Perception verbs such as see, hear, feel, taste, and smell frequently extend beyond their literal, sensory meanings to assume a range of pragmatic functions in discourse. This paper explores how these verbs are used in English to convey evidentiality, epistemic stance, and politeness strategies. Drawing on insights from both international scholarship (Sweetser, 1990; Taboada, 2011) and Uzbek researchers (Ganieva, 2021; Rahimova, 2019), this study provides examples from authentic English data illustrating the ways in which perception verbs facilitate negotiation of meaning, manage interpersonal relationships, and position speakers’ authority or subjectivity within discourse
References
Ganieva, N. (2021). Pragmatic analysis of perception verbs in the Uzbek language. The
Journal of Uzbek Linguistics, 5(2), 27–36.
Harder, P. (2010). Meaning in mind and society: A functional contribution to the social
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Rahimova, S. (2019). Discourse functions of perception verbs in Uzbek. Tashkent: UzSWLU
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Sweetser, E. (1990). From etymology to pragmatics: Metaphorical and cultural aspects of
semantic structure. Cambridge University Press.
Taboada, M. (2011). Stance, involvement, and the use of perception verbs in English
conversation. Journal of Pragmatics, 43(12), 3249–3263.
Viberg, Å. (1983). The verbs of perception: A typological study. Linguistics, 21(1), 123–162.
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