Wang2020b
| Wang2020b | |
|---|---|
| BibType | ARTICLE |
| Key | Wang2020b |
| Author(s) | Wei Wang |
| Title | Grammatical conformity in question-answer sequences: The case of meiyou in Mandarin conversation |
| Editor(s) | |
| Tag(s) | EMCA, Mandarin Chinese, Q-word question, grammatical conformity, meiyou, negative particle, polar question, response |
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| Year | 2020 |
| Language | English |
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| Journal | Discourse Studies |
| Volume | 22 |
| Number | 5 |
| Pages | 610–631 |
| URL | Link |
| DOI | 10.1177/1461445620916371 |
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Abstract
This article probes into grammatical conformity in Mandarin by examining meiyou, a multifunctional negative form, in question-answer sequences. Using a conversation analysis approach, it discovers that, as a conforming answer to polar questions, meiyou acquiesces to all the terms and constraints of the question and maximizes the progressivity of the sequence. As a non-conforming response to polar questions, it mitigates the disagreement by avoiding a pointed syntactic negation. Meiyou can also respond to Q-word questions, problematizing the inference incorporated in the question. This study not only contributes to the cross-linguistic research on negative particles in talk-in-interaction but also reveals that grammatical conformity is a crucial dimension in Mandarin response design, providing further confirmation of the link between grammar, action, and sequence organization.
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