Quoting and topic-marking: Some observations on the quotative tte construction in Japanese
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Ryoko Suzuki
Abstract
Tte is a frequent marker in Japanese conversation exhibiting multiple discourse functions: as a quotative, topic-marker, utterance-final pragmatic particle, and utterance-initial repair marker. We focus on the relationship between the original quotative function and the topic-marking function found in conversational portions of novels spanning 200 years. Three patterns are suggested: tte (1) forms a link between itself and part of the previous speaker’s utterance through immediate repetition, (2) relates itself with an entity present in the current context, or (3) introduces the name of an entity not present in the current context (keeping track of it). It is possible that the more concrete, relational aspect of tte, connecting utterances/objects, is weakened and the referential aspect, introducing referents, develops over time.
Abstract
Tte is a frequent marker in Japanese conversation exhibiting multiple discourse functions: as a quotative, topic-marker, utterance-final pragmatic particle, and utterance-initial repair marker. We focus on the relationship between the original quotative function and the topic-marking function found in conversational portions of novels spanning 200 years. Three patterns are suggested: tte (1) forms a link between itself and part of the previous speaker’s utterance through immediate repetition, (2) relates itself with an entity present in the current context, or (3) introduces the name of an entity not present in the current context (keeping track of it). It is possible that the more concrete, relational aspect of tte, connecting utterances/objects, is weakened and the referential aspect, introducing referents, develops over time.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction ix
- From subordinate clause to noun-phrase: Yang constructions in colloquial Indonesian 1
- On quotative constructions in Iberian Spanish 35
- Bulgarian adversative connectives: Conjunctions or discourse markers? 79
- Projectability and clause combining in interaction 99
- Conjunction and sequenced actions: The Estonian complementizer and evidential particle et 125
- Clause combining, interaction, evidentiality, participation structure, and the conjunction-particle continuum: The Finnish että 153
- The grammaticization of but as a final particle in English conversation 179
- Quotative tte in Japanese: Its multifaceted functions and degrees of "subordination" 205
- Quoting and topic-marking: Some observations on the quotative tte construction in Japanese 231
- Index of names 247
- Index of subjects 251
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction ix
- From subordinate clause to noun-phrase: Yang constructions in colloquial Indonesian 1
- On quotative constructions in Iberian Spanish 35
- Bulgarian adversative connectives: Conjunctions or discourse markers? 79
- Projectability and clause combining in interaction 99
- Conjunction and sequenced actions: The Estonian complementizer and evidential particle et 125
- Clause combining, interaction, evidentiality, participation structure, and the conjunction-particle continuum: The Finnish että 153
- The grammaticization of but as a final particle in English conversation 179
- Quotative tte in Japanese: Its multifaceted functions and degrees of "subordination" 205
- Quoting and topic-marking: Some observations on the quotative tte construction in Japanese 231
- Index of names 247
- Index of subjects 251
