John Benjamins Publishing Company
Chapter 11. NP clustering in Mandarin conversational interaction
Abstract
Noun phrases (NPs) have traditionally been analyzed as a phrasal level unit with hierarchical internal structures as well as syntactic roles in larger syntactic units. In this chapter, I examine NP-related patterns at the discourse level. Using Mandarin conversation data, this chapter focuses on multiple NPs that cluster as adjacent turn constructional units. The patterns identified include: (1) deictic forms supported by gestures for mutual gaze and joint attention; (2) repeated (first person singular) pronouns for mitigation of conflicting stance and self-distancing; (3) diverse NP forms for step-wise reference identification or elaboration; (4) joint production of multiple NPs to display shared stance or mutual orientation; and (5) lists of multiple items for persuasion, exemplification, and clarification as well as for affiliative stance or mutual orientation. As these patterns go beyond the realm of clausal level syntax with demonstrable interactional effects, they are taken to show that there is discourse-level grammar, or grammar-in-interaction, to be accounted for when syntactic notions such as NPs are examined in context, and interactional discourse-based constructions, though non-conventional at times, raise important questions about the shape, formation, and dynamic nature of interaction and grammar.
Abstract
Noun phrases (NPs) have traditionally been analyzed as a phrasal level unit with hierarchical internal structures as well as syntactic roles in larger syntactic units. In this chapter, I examine NP-related patterns at the discourse level. Using Mandarin conversation data, this chapter focuses on multiple NPs that cluster as adjacent turn constructional units. The patterns identified include: (1) deictic forms supported by gestures for mutual gaze and joint attention; (2) repeated (first person singular) pronouns for mitigation of conflicting stance and self-distancing; (3) diverse NP forms for step-wise reference identification or elaboration; (4) joint production of multiple NPs to display shared stance or mutual orientation; and (5) lists of multiple items for persuasion, exemplification, and clarification as well as for affiliative stance or mutual orientation. As these patterns go beyond the realm of clausal level syntax with demonstrable interactional effects, they are taken to show that there is discourse-level grammar, or grammar-in-interaction, to be accounted for when syntactic notions such as NPs are examined in context, and interactional discourse-based constructions, though non-conventional at times, raise important questions about the shape, formation, and dynamic nature of interaction and grammar.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I. Languages from Europe
- Chapter 2. The Finnish se että initiated expressions 11
- Chapter 3. Emergent complex noun phrases 43
- Chapter 4. The noun phrase as an emergent unit in Finnish 71
- Chapter 5. Noun phrases in other-repetitions 93
- Chapter 6. Asserting no-problemness in Spanish 119
- Chapter 7. Multimodal noun phrases 153
- Chapter 8. Nouns and noun phrases in other-initiated repair in English atypical interaction 179
-
Part II. Languages from other parts of the world
- Chapter 9. Multiple nominal expressions in Garrwa conversation 211
- Chapter 10. The pragmatics of ‘light nouns’ in Besemah 237
- Chapter 11. NP clustering in Mandarin conversational interaction 271
- Chapter 12. What can Japanese conversation tell us about ‘NP’? 315
- Chapter 13. Robust argument phrases (DPs) but unruly NPs in Maa 329
- Index 363
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I. Languages from Europe
- Chapter 2. The Finnish se että initiated expressions 11
- Chapter 3. Emergent complex noun phrases 43
- Chapter 4. The noun phrase as an emergent unit in Finnish 71
- Chapter 5. Noun phrases in other-repetitions 93
- Chapter 6. Asserting no-problemness in Spanish 119
- Chapter 7. Multimodal noun phrases 153
- Chapter 8. Nouns and noun phrases in other-initiated repair in English atypical interaction 179
-
Part II. Languages from other parts of the world
- Chapter 9. Multiple nominal expressions in Garrwa conversation 211
- Chapter 10. The pragmatics of ‘light nouns’ in Besemah 237
- Chapter 11. NP clustering in Mandarin conversational interaction 271
- Chapter 12. What can Japanese conversation tell us about ‘NP’? 315
- Chapter 13. Robust argument phrases (DPs) but unruly NPs in Maa 329
- Index 363
