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Article published In: (Inter)subjectivity across registers of Estonian: Special issue of the Journal of Uralic Linguistics 3:2 (2024)
Edited by Helle Metslang, Tiit Hennoste and Külli Habicht
[Journal of Uralic Linguistics 3:2] 2024
► pp. 186–208

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Functions of the particles tõesti ‘really’ and tõepoolest ‘indeed’ in the spoken, online and printed registers of Estonian

ORCiD logo with link | University of Tartu, Estonia
Published online: 8 November 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jul.00030.laa
Abstract
The article examines the use of two Estonian pragmatic particles, tõesti ‘really’ and tõepoolest ‘indeed, truly’, in everyday conversations, online news comments and academic prose. The data is drawn from the Estonian Pragmatic Corpus. The material analyzed reveals that the main function of both particles in the different registers is to confirm and emphasize some statement, fact, general knowledge, etc., either in the previous text or in the current utterance or sentence. Both particles can add an element of surprise or bewilderment to the sentence or utterance. The use of tõepoolest is associated with higher degrees of formality, whereas tõesti, being a relatively frequent particle, can occur in both formal and informal texts.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data
  • 3.Tõesti and tõepoolest in everyday conversations
    • 3.1Tõesti
    • 3.2Tõepoolest
  • 4.Tõesti and tõepoolest in online news comments
    • 4.1Tõesti
    • 4.2Tõepoolest
  • 5.Tõesti and tõepoolest in academic prose
    • 5.1Tõesti
    • 5.2Tõepoolest
  • 6.Discussion and conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
  • Online materials
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CombiDic = EKI ühendsõnastik [The EKI Combined Dictionary]. Compilers and editors Indrek Hein, Jelena Kallas, Olga Kiisla, Kristina Koppel, Margit Langemets, Tiina Leemets, Maia Melts, Sirje Mäearu, Tiina Paet, Peeter Päll, Maire Raadik, Mai Tiits, Katrin Tsepelina, Maria Tuulik, Udo Uibo, Tiia Valdre & Ülle Viks. [URL] (26 06,24).
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2025. Questions in monological discourse in the Estonian parliament. Linguistics Vanguard DOI logo
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2024. Downtoners and intensifiers in different registers. Journal of Uralic Linguistics 3:2 ► pp. 158 ff. DOI logo
Metslang, Helle, Külli Habicht, Tiit Hennoste, Kirsi Laanesoo-Kalk, Külli Prillop, Andriela Rääbis & Carl Eric Simmul
2024. (Inter)subjectivity in Estonian registers. Journal of Uralic Linguistics 3:2 ► pp. 119 ff. DOI logo

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