The Subject Perspective of Causal Relations (in the Cases of Russian and German)

Abstract

Abstract:The present article attempts to reveal the subject perspective of causal relations in the cases of Russian and German. The subject is represented as a central figure: his or her perception and knowledge of the reality are manifested in her or his cognitive state, mental perception, and subjective judgments about objective causal relationships. Subjectivity acts are the main principle of categorization and conceptualization of causal relations. They play the key role in building a notional structure of causal utterances and in creating cognitive integrity in oral and written discourse. As the author of various epistemic judgments, the subject can be in a cognitive state of knowing, ignorance, certainty, uncertainty, supposition, remembering, and guessing. The type of state depends on the information's authenticity degree and on the information's character: direct, indirect, and potential, based on which the speaker comes to a conclusion about the event. The article also reveals the means for verbalization of cognitive states and subjective causal relations.