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Chapter 7. From subjectivity to intersubjectivity

A discourse-pragmatic study of the Japanese epistemic marker kamo (shirenai)
  • Yan Wang
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Pragmatics of Japanese
This chapter is in the book Pragmatics of Japanese

Abstract

This study investigates the discourse-pragmatic functions of the Japanese sentence-final expression kamo (shirenai) ‘maybe’ in natural conversations. By investigating 72 cases of kamo (shirenai) in sequential contexts, my study demonstrates that showing epistemic uncertainty is not the only function that kamo (shirenai) carries in conversational discourse; rather, it mainly serves for intersubjective purposes to downplay the assertiveness of statements, or to present non-full approval in a noncommittal manner. Further, I suggest that kamo (shirenai) shows a new tendency of usage in contexts when the speaker attempts to express personal emotions in a less ego-focused manner.

Abstract

This study investigates the discourse-pragmatic functions of the Japanese sentence-final expression kamo (shirenai) ‘maybe’ in natural conversations. By investigating 72 cases of kamo (shirenai) in sequential contexts, my study demonstrates that showing epistemic uncertainty is not the only function that kamo (shirenai) carries in conversational discourse; rather, it mainly serves for intersubjective purposes to downplay the assertiveness of statements, or to present non-full approval in a noncommittal manner. Further, I suggest that kamo (shirenai) shows a new tendency of usage in contexts when the speaker attempts to express personal emotions in a less ego-focused manner.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Dedication vii
  4. Foreword xi
  5. Acknowledgement xv
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I. Grammar
  8. Chapter 1. Reason-coding in Japanese 17
  9. Chapter 2. Amari/anmari/anma and totemo/tottemo in history and discourse 49
  10. Chapter 3. The form and meaning of the dangling mitaina construction in a network of constructions 75
  11. Chapter 4. “Late projectability” of Japanese turns revisited 99
  12. Part II. Interaction
  13. Chapter 5. Superiors’ directives in the Japanese workplace 125
  14. Chapter 6. Negotiating entitlement in Japanese 149
  15. Chapter 7. From subjectivity to intersubjectivity 173
  16. Chapter 8. Ne as an “impoliteness” (“detachment”) marker? 197
  17. Part III. Culture
  18. Chapter 9. Genre and the cultural realms of taste in Japanese, Korean, and U.S. online recipes 219
  19. Chapter 10. Metapragmatic discourse in self-help books on Japanese women’s speech 245
  20. Chapter 11. Linguistic nationalism and fictional deception 267
  21. Chapter 12. How does a non-native Japanese literary writer dissimulate and diversify the Japanese language? 289
  22. Subject index 309
  23. Name index 311
https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.285.07wan

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Dedication vii
  4. Foreword xi
  5. Acknowledgement xv
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I. Grammar
  8. Chapter 1. Reason-coding in Japanese 17
  9. Chapter 2. Amari/anmari/anma and totemo/tottemo in history and discourse 49
  10. Chapter 3. The form and meaning of the dangling mitaina construction in a network of constructions 75
  11. Chapter 4. “Late projectability” of Japanese turns revisited 99
  12. Part II. Interaction
  13. Chapter 5. Superiors’ directives in the Japanese workplace 125
  14. Chapter 6. Negotiating entitlement in Japanese 149
  15. Chapter 7. From subjectivity to intersubjectivity 173
  16. Chapter 8. Ne as an “impoliteness” (“detachment”) marker? 197
  17. Part III. Culture
  18. Chapter 9. Genre and the cultural realms of taste in Japanese, Korean, and U.S. online recipes 219
  19. Chapter 10. Metapragmatic discourse in self-help books on Japanese women’s speech 245
  20. Chapter 11. Linguistic nationalism and fictional deception 267
  21. Chapter 12. How does a non-native Japanese literary writer dissimulate and diversify the Japanese language? 289
  22. Subject index 309
  23. Name index 311
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