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Interactional Functions of Suoyi ‘So’ in Mandarin Conversation
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- Author / Creator
- Wang, Xiaoyun
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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. -
- Graduation date
- Fall 2018
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Arts
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- License
- Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.