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In:Pragmatic Markers, Discourse Markers and Modal Particles: New perspectives
Edited by Chiara Fedriani and Andrea Sansó
[Studies in Language Companion Series 186] 2017
► pp. 203–228

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Chapter 7
Italian non-canonical negations as modal particles

Information state, polarity and mirativity

 | Università di Torino
Published online: 13 November 2017
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.186.08squ
Abstract
This chapter will focus on the role of information state as a major factor in the development of modal particles derived from negative minimizers. By capitalizing on previous research on Romance non-canonical negations (see especially Schwenter 2003, 2005, 2006), the analysis will describe the special discursive function of the Italian negative operator mica (etym. ‘crumb’) in direct questions, where the textual dynamics ‘given’ vs. ‘new’ interacts with the speaker’s mirative reactions. The occurrence of distinct regional patterns in the use of mica in direct questions indicates different combinations of polarity with the mirative role of the speaker, who, apart from managing information flow, also reacts to unexpected information by matching previous knowledge with new information acquired in discourse.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Romance non-canonical negations as discourse operators
  • 3.The interplay of discourse givenness and hearer’s knowledge
  • 4.Italian mica : From discourse-old to discourse-new?
  • 5.Italian mica in direct questions: mica 1 and mica 2
  • 6. mica 1 vs. mica 2 : Polarity and mirativity
  • 7.Discourse-new but speaker-old in questions?
  • 8.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (53)
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