Vol. 14:2 (2023) ► pp.328–362
Speakers’ subjective evaluation of adversity
Adversity lens constructed through bei-passive in Chinese conversation
Adversative passives like Mandarin Chinese bei-passives are known to convey adversity, but what “adversity” means specifically for speakers of bei- in conversational discourse remains unknown. Whereas previous studies examine adversity within the bei- clause, this study uses the lens concept to investigate speakers’ subjective evaluations of the event attested by the larger context beyond the bei- clause. Using a subjectivity coding scheme and the discourse adjacent alternation method, I analyzed 4,203 values of event valence of 1,401 bei- utterances and 65 alternations in spontaneous talk show conversations. Results show that: (1) The same event that a speaker evaluates as “adverse” using bei- is sometimes evaluated as “non-adverse” using non-bei structures. (2) The same bei+verb phrase that previous studies may deem “adverse” can be evaluated as “adverse” or “positive” by actual speakers. (3) 84.5% (1,184/1,401) of the time, bei-passive in conversation expresses speakers’ evaluation that a causative event is adverse for the affectee, regardless of what reality is. (4) Adversity means undesirable, disadvantageous, morally or socially wrong, empathy-deserving, and/or sympathy-deserving for speakers of bei-. The findings indicate that the adversity that bei- conveys is not an objective description of reality but a subjective evaluation independent of reality–the Adversity lens. This study sheds light on subjectivity and specific manifestations of adversity in conversational discourse.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Literature review
- 2.1The canonical Chinese bei-passive construction
- 2.2Specific manifestations of the adversity in bei-
- 2.3How adversity in bei- is determined
- 2.4Adversity in bei- in conversational discourse
- 2.5Speaker’s stance towards the event described by bei-
- 2.6Summary of literature review
- 3.Theoretical background: Lens
- 4.Data and method
- 4.1Data
- 4.2Method
- 4.2.1Definition of the new term developed in this study
- 4.2.2Identification of bei- instances
- 4.2.3Coding of event valence and speaker subjectivity associated with bei-
- 4.2.4Identification of bei- alternations
- 5.Results and analysis
- 5.1Speakers’ subjectivity encoded in the Adversity lens
- 5.1.1Adversity as a subjective evaluation
- 5.1.2Speakers indicating adversity for the affectee
- 5.2Specific manifestations of adversity conveyed by bei- in conversation
- 5.2.1 Bei- presents a causative event as undesirable and/or empathy-deserving
- 5.2.2 Bei- presents a causative event as disadvantageous
- 5.2.3 Bei- presents a causative event as morally or socially wrong
- 5.2.4 Bei- presents a causative event as sympathy-deserving
- 5.1Speakers’ subjectivity encoded in the Adversity lens
- 6.Discussion
- 7.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
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References
https://doi.org/10.1075/cld.22002.su