Abstract
This contribution studies the pragmatic-discursive issue of epistemic modalizers of knowing and believing in memory discourse with the aim of understanding the intentionality of speakers who seek to modalize their discourse. The analysis carried out showed that the modalizing verbs know and believe do not only define the positioning of witnesses in relation to the content of their utterance, they attribute to their speech a value of sincerity and reliability. Indeed, through disengagement, the speaker attempts to convince the interlocutor of his status as an honest witness, while through engagement, he seeks to convince him of the truth and reliability of his account, which allows him to legitimize and strengthen his status as a historical witness.