Interactional Functions of Suoyi ‘So’ in Mandarin Conversation

• Author / Creator

  Wang, Xiaoyun

• An increasing number of studies of language and interaction have reported that causal
  conjunctions can be used to mark something other than causal connection in conversation
  (Bolden 2009; Walker, 2012). Suoyi ‘so’ is a causal conjunction indicating results and
  conclusions in Mandarin. Previous research has sketched its function as a discourse marker in
  discourse and turn organization based on the data of TV shows (Fang, 2000; Yao, 2009). Its
  interactional functions in naturalistic Mandarin conversation are largely undocumented. This
  study explores interactional functions of the conjunction suoyi ‘so’ in Mandarin conversation.
  
  Adopting the methodology of conversation analysis and interactional linguistics, this
  study examines the interactional functions of suoyi when it occurs at different sequential
  positions in Mandarin conversation. The data for this study are 12 hours of naturalistic Mandarin
  conversation. An examination of the data shows that suoyi can be used at turn-initial, mid-turn,
  and turn-final positions. Specifically, the turn-initial suoyis have three main interactional
  functions: 1) to link the subsequent talk to the immediate prior speaker’s talk and explicate the
  current speaker’s epistemic stance; 2) to preface a display of understanding; and 3) to continue a
  pre-prior talk or activity. The mid-turn suoyis perform two main functions: 1) to introduce a
  result or conclusion, and 2) to be used at the possible closure of a topic. The turn-final suoyis in
  the data perform the function of marking the possible completion of a turn. This study describes
  the undocumented usages of suoyi in Mandarin conversation and contributes to our
  understanding of the interactional functions of suoyi from a cross-linguistic perspective.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • conjunction
  • suoyi
  • interactional functions
  • Mandarin conversation
  • conversation analysis
  • interactional linguistics

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3W669R0V

• License

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