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Can 見る be used rather than 言う in this context？

Why is this written:

> 「なぜ止まったんだ」と僕を見ました。

_Short Stories in Japanese for Intermediate Learners_ by Olly Richards, page
22

I would maybe have expected this:

> 「なぜ止まったんだ」と僕を言いました。

It’s odd to say that I **saw** him saying something, unless the implication is
he **seemed** to be saying something?
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2023-06-09T03:53:16.877
99877
2023-06-10T01:59:47.207
2023-06-10T01:59:47.207
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question
grammar word-usage particle-と
Can と見る be used instead of と言う
The interpretation is:

> He looked at me, asking 'Why have we stopped?'

rather than

> I saw him saying 'Why have we stopped'?

と in this instance is specifying the manner in which the other person looked
at the speaker — it's a bit weird to think of direct speech as indicating a
way of doing something (as if it were "He looked at me in a 'Why have we
stopped' way" in English), but I interpret と here as being similar to
expressions such as:

> ドアがバタンと閉まった。  
>  The door closed with a bang.
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2023-06-09T05:47:54.773
99879
2023-06-09T05:47:54.773
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answer