Re-evaluating the dynamics of subjectification, intersubjectification, and textualization from a constructional perspective

The development of the pragmatic marker jiushi in Chinese

Bibliographic Data

ID21822776
AuthorsFangqiong Zhan (0000-0002-5791-8205, University of Connecticut)
Year2025
Volume16
Issue2
Pages201-233
Publication date2025-08-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChinese Language and Discourse An International and Interdisciplinary Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1877-7031 • E-ISSN: 1877-8798
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/cld.25004.zha
LanguageEN
References cited31

This paper examines the pragmatic functions of the pragmatic marker ( pm , cf. Fraser 2009 ) jiushi in Chinese and further categorizes its functions as a discourse marker ( dm ) indicating elaboration and contrast, and a discourse management marker ( dmm ) signaling topic establishment, hesitation and self-repair. Previous research (cf. Zhang 2002 ) suggests that the development of jiushi involves a progression of meaning changes that were first subjectified, then textualized and eventually inter-subjectified. This paper, however, taking a constructional point of view argues that when jiushi is constructionalized into a conjunct, it automatically inherits from the pre-existing conjunct schema the subjective, textual, and intersubjective properties. (Inter)ubjective properties are increased when jiushi is further constructionalized into a pm . Such an analysis argues that the textual, subjective, and intersubjective qualities are independent, and each may in principle shift (or not) at any moment/order and characterizes the development of procedural structures without placing the diachronic concepts on a cline

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