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A relevance-theoretic account of the pragmatic marker ba in Mandarin Chinese

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Author

Summary, in English

This paper aims to present a proposal for a relevance-theoretic description of the use of the particle ba in Mandarin Chinese. The result of the analyses of the data shows that ba is a pragmatic marker with a similar function in declaratives, interrogatives and imperatives, i.e. to indicate hearer-oriented weak commitment towards either the proposition expressed (declaratives, interrogatives) or the speech act expressed (imperatives). The results also indicate that ba can be compared to tags such as English yeah, right? and innit? and that it is often used more generally to engage the hearer in the conversation and expressing politeness with no real intention of allowing for a response or confirmation from him/her.

Department/s

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

261-287

Publication/Series

Journal of Chinese Linguistics

Volume

38

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

University of California

Topic

  • History and Archaeology

Keywords

  • discourse markers
  • pragmatics
  • Relevance Theory
  • Mandarin Chinese

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0091-3723