Kendrick, Kobin H. orcid.org/0000-0002-6656-1439 (2018) Adjusting epistemic gradients: The final particle ba in Mandarin Chinese conversation. East Asian Pragmatics. pp. 5-26. ISSN 2055-7760
Abstract
In Mandarin Chinese conversation, the final particle "ba" contributes to the formation of a variety of social actions. Using the methods of conversation analysis, this article examines the use of the "ba" particle in answers to questions, informings, and assessments. It is argued that the particle serves as a turn-constructional resource for the adjustment of the epistemic gradient invoked in the sequence, downgrading the speaker’s epistemic position. In assessment sequences, the epistemic adjustment made by the particle also serves to solicit a response from the recipient who invariably has knowledge of the matter in question. An analysis of the "ba" particle in terms of epistemic gradients and their adjustment unifies two accounts of the particle’s function put forward in the literature.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Language and Linguistic Science (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 25 Oct 2018 11:52 |
Last Modified: | 20 Feb 2025 00:08 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1558/eap.36120 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1558/eap.36120 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:137785 |
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