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Article published In: Chinese Language and Discourse
Vol. 16:2 (2025) ► pp.201–233

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

The development of the pragmatic marker jiushi in Chinese

ORCiD logo with link | Nanyang Technological University National Institute of Education
Published online: 8 July 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/cld.25004.zha
Abstract
This paper examines the pragmatic functions of the pragmatic marker (pm, cf. 2009. An account of discourse markers. International Review of Pragmatics 11: 293–320. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) 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, Y. 2002. Jiushi de pianzhang xianjie gongneng jiqi yufahua licheng [The coherent functions of jiushi in text and the evolution of its grammaticalization]. Shijie Hanyu jiaoxue [Chinese Teaching in the World] 31:80–90.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) 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.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1The pragmatic markers (pms)
    • 2.2Constructionalization and constructional changes
  • 3.Data and methodology
  • 4.Jiushi in Modern Chinese
  • 5.Jiushi in the history of Chinese
    • 5.1Jiu and shi in the history Chinese
    • 5.2The rise of jiushi as a dm (type (iii) of pms)
      • 5.2.1The emergence of jiushi as an elaborative dm
      • 5.2.2The development of jiushi as a contrastive dm
      • 5.2.3The development of jiushi as a conditional concessive conjunct
    • 5.3The development of jiushi as a dmm (type (iv) of pms)
    • 5.4Subjectification, textualization and intersubjectification
      • 5.4.1From [modal adverb + cop] to Conjunct
      • 5.4.2As a dm
      • 5.4.3As a DDM
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process
  • Notes
  • References
References (43)
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