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In:Between Turn and Sequence: Turn-initial particles across languages
Edited by John Heritage and Marja-Leena Sorjonen
[Studies in Language and Social Interaction 31] 2018
► pp. 251–286

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Chapter 9
Reformulating prior speaker’s turn in Finnish

Turn-initial siis, eli(kkä), and nii(n) et(tä)

 | University of Helsinki
Published online: 19 July 2018
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https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.31.09sor
Abstract
This chapter examines the Finnish particles siis, eli(kkä) and nii(n) et(tä) when they occupy the turn-initial position. The chapter focuses on the use of these particles when they preface a single type of action, a reformulation of the prior speaker’s turn or more extended stretch of talk. In contrast to reformulations without a prefacing particle, the particles are used for contextualizing the turn by displaying their speaker’s stance vis-à-vis the action being done. It will be shown that while the prefaces share a range of characteristics, most importantly making an explicit link to the prior talk and projecting a reformulation to come, each of them displays a distinctive epistemic stance (e.g. degree of certainty; basis of the reformulation). The chapter sets the turn-initial use of the particles in relation to their other types of usages and etymology.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2. Siis-prefacing
    • 2.1Background
    • 2.2Prefacing reformulation with siis
  • 3. Eli(kkä)-prefacing
    • 3.1Background
    • 3.2Prefacing a reformulation with eli(kkä)
  • 4. Nii(n) et(tä)-prefacing
    • 4.1Background
    • 4.2 Prefacing a reformulation with nii(n) et(tä)
  • 5.Discussion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • References
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