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Part of
(Non)referentiality in Conversation
Edited by Michael C. Ewing and Ritva Laury
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 344] 2024
► pp. 56–79

Chapter 4
The (non)referentiality of the word raha ‘money’ in Finnish conversation

| University of Helsinki

This chapter concerns the use of the word raha ‘money’ in Finnish everyday conversation. The main findings are that raha is most often used non-referentially in singular form in predications where only the category of money is at issue. When the word is used to create referential mentions of some specific money with continuity of identity, a plural form is used. The study shows that the singular-plural distinction is a manipulable resource exploited by participants in conversation for interactional purposes to create stance and to accomplish actions.

Keywords: Finnish, divisible noun, number, specificity, stance, continuity of identity, emergence
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data and method
  • 3.Raha in Finnish grammars
  • 4.Raha in Finnish everyday conversation
    • 4.1Raha in non-referential use
    • 4.2Referential uses of raha
    • 4.3Shifting uses of raha in conversation
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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