「主張する」を意味に持つ単語の違い

"argue"をはじめ、英単語には「主張する」を意味に持つ言葉がたくさんある。しかし、必ず違いがあるはず。今回は6つの単語を見ていくことにする。

①argue

意味: to give the reasons for your opinion, idea, belief, etc.

例文: The senator argued that cuts in military spending were needed.

②claim

意味: to say that something is true or is a fact, although you cannot prove it and other people might not believe it.

例文: The company claims that it is not responsible for the pollution in the river.

③insist

意味: to say firmly or demand forcefully, especially when others disagree with or oppose what you say

例文: Greg still insists that he did nothing wrong.

④assert

意味: to say that something is certainly true

例文: He asserts that she stole his money from him.

⑤maintain

意味: to express firmly your belief that something is true

例文: Throughout his prison sentence, Dunn has always maintained his innocence.

⑥allege

意味: to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof.

例文: It was alleged that he had struck her on the head.

意味と例文を見たら似て非なる単語たちであると分かるだろう。ちなみに、argueの語源はラテン語で「銀」を意味する"argentum"だそう。これは銀の元素記号AgやArgentina(アルゼンチン)と同じ語源だ。