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Article In: Interactional Problems and Their Resolutions in Natural Discourse in Languages in Taiwan
Edited by Miao-Hsia Chang
[Chinese Language and Discourse 17:2] 2026
► pp. 226–260

Navigating interactional troubles in conversation

The use of lí kóng ‘you say’ in Taiwanese Southern Min

ORCiD logo with link | National Taiwan Normal University
ORCiD logo with link | University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This paper explores the deployment of lí kóng ‘you say’ (LK) as a formulaic reported speech (RS) initiator in Taiwanese Southern Min natural conversation for navigating interactional troubles. An interactional trouble here refers to either (1) a problematic point arising from linguistic errors, misunderstandings, or misaligned assumptions between interlocutors, or (2) an arguable topic related to the ongoing conversational topic. Three major patterns of use are identified, each associated with distinct sequential environments: (1) comprehension checks of a trouble source, (2) indication of misalignment by challenging a prior assertion with a contrastive opinion, and (3) the introduction of a trouble source through a hypothetical quote. The hypothetical cases demonstrate a strong preference for the media register and suggest that LK is developing into a discourse particle for managing conversational problems. This study contributes to the conversation analysis literature by demonstrating how RS functions as a resource for managing interactional troubles in spontaneous discourse.
Article outline
  • 1.Motivation and goals
  • 2.Data and methodology
  • 3.Major patterns of use
    • 3.1Comprehension check of a trouble source in a responsive turn
    • 3.2Indication of misalignment by challenging a prior assertion with a contrastive opinion
    • 3.3Introducing a trouble source with a hypothetical quote
    • 3.4Development of LK into a discourse particle
  • 4.Summary and discussion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • References
References (69)
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