Evidentialsuffix

An evidential suffix is a morphological suffix attached to a verb that encodes evidentiality—the source or reliability of the information expressed by the verb. It signals whether the speaker has direct evidence, has inferred the information, or is reporting something heard from another source. As a form of evidential marking, it interacts with tense, aspect, and mood in the languages that employ it.

Across the world's languages, evidential suffixes are a common means of encoding epistemic stance. They can be part of a system with multiple suffixes distinguishing direct evidence, inference, and hearsay, or a single suffix that covers several evidential sources. In many cases, the suffix attaches to the main verb and coexists with other verbal morphology; in others, it forms part of a more complex verb stem or requires specific phonological rules. The status of evidentials suffixes can influence discourse by shaping how speakers present information and assess credibility.

Not all languages use suffixal evidentials; some rely on clitics, particles, or independent verbs. The study of evidential suffixes is a key area in linguistic typology and semantics, illustrating how languages encode knowledge and source of information within grammar rather than relying solely on lexical adverbs or context.