Evidentiality in science from specialization to popularization: A case study of COVID-19 texts

Abstract Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, medical texts on have enjoyed wide popularity, and one key issues has always been accuracy dependability information they contain. The use evidentiality, a linguistic system which functions to indicate source credibility information, is thus worth exploring in texts. Adopting synthesized framework within overall model systemic functional linguistics, this paper sets out investigate lexicogrammar semantics evidentiality basis data collected form both specialized popular COVID-19. Evidentiality these explored along four dimensions: (i) evidential taxonomy , where favor reporting, while belief inferring; (ii) highlight voices authorship, original research, patients, whereas scientists, institutions, countries, laypeople; (iii) modalization typically higher degree modal responsibility than their counterparts; (iv) engagement dialogic expansion contraction. It hoped that findings will shed light variation according different contextual configurations, as well clarifying rhetorical conventions discourse communities science.