"Explicar": el verbo en el discurso referido

Abstract

The Spanish verb explicar ‘to explain’ is used in everyday language to refer to verbal actions that seek to simplify; clarify and; in general; allow a hearer to understand what is being said. Speakers give; extend; request or demand explanations and the action of ‘explaining’ seems to be considered as one by speakers. However; when we examine how the verb is used we can see that several different types of acts are being invoked. This study aims at a semantic characterization of the verb explicar based on the analysis of a small corpus of expressions taken from Mexican newspapers in which the verb is used in the report of verbal actions.