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In:Current Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse: Global context and diverse perspectives
Edited by Yun Xiao and Linda Tsung
[Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse 10] 2019
► pp. 81–103

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Chapter 5
Some interactional functions of Yinwei-clauses in Mandarin Chinese conversation

 | University of Alberta, Canada
 | University of Calgary, Canada
Published online: 15 April 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/scld.10.05li
Abstract
Yinwei ‘because’ is a causal conjunction or preposition indicating a causal relation between two clauses, NPs and other discourse units in Mandarin Chinese. Building on the previous research, this study examines how yinwei is used by conversational participants to organize talk and accomplish interactional tasks in Mandarin conversation. Adopting the methodologies of conversation analysis and interactional linguistics, this study examines 11 hours of everyday Mandarin conversational data, and explores the interactional functions of yinwei-clauses. An examination of the data shows that yinwei-clauses have a variety of interactional functions in everyday Mandarin conversation. Two particular interactional functions of yinwei-clauses are accounts for a speaker’s prior action such as disagreement and strong assertion, and parentheticals providing background information related to the ongoing talk.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical and methodological background
  • 3.Yinwei-clauses as accounts for speakers’ prior actions
    • 3.1Accounts for disagreements
    • 3.2Accounts for assertion
  • 4.Yinwei-clause as parentheticals to provide background information
    • 4.1Within an ongoing TCU
    • 4.2Between TCUs
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
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