Units in Mandarin Conversation
Prosody, discourse, and grammar
Author
This book provides a new way of studying grammar. The basic thrust of the book is to investigate grammar based on a prosodic unit, the intonation unit (IU), in spontaneous speech. The author challenges the dominant practice in the study of syntax, which has been to focus on the unit of the artificially constructed sentence. The book shows that some basic notions developed from sentence-level data often do not account well for speech data. For example, in many versions of syntactic theory, the basic syntactic structure of any sentence is assumed to comprise both an NP and a VP (with variations in terminology). However the author shows that a Mandarin sentence in spoken discourse can consist of a lone NP or a transitive verbal expression without any explicit argument (which is not due to anaphora). Although the book concerns Mandarin discourse and grammar, it will be of interest to students of a wide range of fields, including discourse analysis, syntax, conversation analysis, prosodic studies, and typological studies.
[Studies in Discourse and Grammar, 5] 1996. xvi, 226 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
-
Preface | p. v
-
List of Abbreviations | p. xiii
-
List of Tables | p. xv
-
List of Figures | p. xvi
-
1. Introduction | p. 1
-
2. Preliminaries and Methodology | p. 5
-
3. Prosodic Properties of Mandarin Intonation Units | p. 32
-
4. Grammatical Structure of the Mandarin Intonation Unit | p. 55
-
5. The Pragmatics of NP Intonation Units | p. 78
-
6. The Preferred Clause Structure in Conversation | p. 108
-
7. Non-Anaphoric Elliptical Clausal Intonation Units | p. 128
-
8. Low Transitivity Pronominal Full Clausal IUs | p. 149
-
9. Units of Speech and of Grammar | p. 174
-
10. Conclusions | p. 194
-
Notes | p. 197
-
-
Appendix (Transcription Conventions) | p. 217
-
Index | p. 219
Cited by
Cited by 67 other publications
Couper-Kuhlen, Elizabeth & Tsuyoshi Ono
2022. ‘Incrementing’ in conversation. A comparison of practices in English, German and Japanese. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA) ► pp. 513 ff. 
Croft, William
2007. Intonation Units and Grammatical Structure in Wardaman and in Cross-linguistic Perspective. Australian Journal of Linguistics 27:1 ► pp. 1 ff.
Diao, Wenhao
2016. Peer Socialization into Gendered L2 Mandarin Practices in a Study Abroad Context: Talk in the Dorm. Applied Linguistics 37:5 ► pp. 599 ff.
Ewing, Michael C.
2019. The predicate as a locus of grammar and interaction in colloquial Indonesian. Studies in Language 43:2 ► pp. 402 ff.
Ewing, Michael C.
2021. The predicate as a locus of grammar and interaction in colloquial Indonesian. In Usage-based and Typological Approaches to Linguistic Units [Benjamins Current Topics, 114], ► pp. 161 ff.
Ford, Cecilia E., Barbara A. Fox & Sandra A. Thompson
2022. Practices in the construction of turns. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA) ► pp. 427 ff.
Helasvuo, Marja-Liisa
2015. Searching for motivations for grammatical patternings. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA) ► pp. 453 ff.
Helasvuo, Marja-Liisa
Helasvuo, Marja-Liisa
2020. Chapter 4. The noun phrase as an emergent unit in Finnish. In The ‘Noun Phrase’ across Languages [Typological Studies in Language, 128], ► pp. 72 ff.
Helasvuo, Marja-Liisa
2021. Free NPs as units in Finnish. In Usage-based and Typological Approaches to Linguistic Units [Benjamins Current Topics, 114], ► pp. 59 ff.
Himmelmann, Nikolaus P.
2022. Prosodic phrasing and the emergence of phrase structure. Linguistics 60:3 ► pp. 715 ff.
Izre'el, Shlomo
Izre'el, Shlomo
2020. Chapter 2. The basic unit of spoken language and the interfaces between prosody, discourse and syntax. In In Search of Basic Units of Spoken Language [Studies in Corpus Linguistics, 94], ► pp. 77 ff.
Izre'el, Shlomo & Amina Mettouchi
2015. Representation of speech in CorpAfroAs. In Corpus-based Studies of Lesser-described Languages [Studies in Corpus Linguistics, 68], ► pp. 13 ff.
Jin, Ying & Bernadette Maria Watson
2020. Playback: An Investigation of the Discursive Implications and the Pragmatic Functions of Repetition in Traditional Chinese Medical Consultations. Journal of Language and Social Psychology 39:5-6 ► pp. 716 ff.
Laury, Ritva & Marja-Liisa Helasvuo
2020. Chapter 3. The emergence and routinization of complex syntactic patterns formed with ajatella ‘think’ and tietää ‘know’ in Finnish talk-in-interaction. In Emergent Syntax for Conversation [Studies in Language and Social Interaction, 32], ► pp. 55 ff.
Lee, Heeju, Danjie Su & Hongyin Tao
2017. A crosslinguistic study of some extended uses of what-based interrogative expressions in Chinese, English, and Korean. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 8:2 ► pp. 137 ff.
Lee, Siu-lun & Kin Wing Kevin Chan
2015. The Issue of Register-Style in Language Teaching: Analyzing Register-Style Errors of Learners of Cantonese as a Second Language. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics 05:04 ► pp. 319 ff.
Lena, Ludovica, C. Granget, M.-A. Dat, D. Guedat-Bittighoffer & C. Cuet
2017. Les énoncés «présentatifs» chez les apprenants sinophones de français L2. SHS Web of Conferences 38 ► pp. 00009 ff.
Liu, Bo, Bruno Di Biase & Satomi Kawaguchi
2023. Chapter 3. The development of lexical mapping in Chinese L2. In Processability and Language Acquisition in the Asia-Pacific Region [Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching, 9], ► pp. 63 ff.
Liu, Yu
2019. Disfluency in L2 Chinese Academic Oral Presentations and Formulaic Language Instruction. In Chinese for Specific and Professional Purposes [Chinese Language Learning Sciences, ], ► pp. 95 ff.
Luke, Kang-kwong & Wei Zhang
2022. Retrospective turn continuations in Mandarin Chinese conversation. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA) ► pp. 605 ff.
Mettouchi, Amina & Valentina Schiattarella
2018. Chapter 10. The influence of the state distinction on word order and information structure in Kabyle and Siwi (Berber). In Information Structure in Lesser-described Languages [Studies in Language Companion Series, 199], ► pp. 265 ff.
Morbiato, Anna
2020. Cognitive-functional principles and Chinese linear order. Cognitive Linguistic Studies 7:2 ► pp. 307 ff.
Morita, Emi
2008. Highlighted moves within an action: segmented talk in Japanese conversation. Discourse Studies 10:4 ► pp. 517 ff.
Nguyen, Li
2018. Borrowing or Code-switching? Traces of community norms in Vietnamese-English speech. Australian Journal of Linguistics 38:4 ► pp. 443 ff.
Tsuyoshi Ono & Sandra A. Thompson
2003. Japanese (w)atashi/ore/boku I: Theyre not just pronouns. cogl 14:4 ► pp. 321 ff.
Ozerov, Pavel
Pan, Shuyi & Yumei Gan
2022. Continuing assessments in online dating: Enabling relational development between potential romantic partners in WeChat conversations. Discourse Studies 24:5 ► pp. 545 ff.
Peng, Xinjia
2018. The emergence of a discourse construction in the internet. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 9:2 ► pp. 209 ff.
Quan, Lihong & Jinlong Ma
2019. A study of repeat-formatted repair initiations in Mandarin Chinese
conversation. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 10:2 ► pp. 158 ff.
Raymond, Chase Wesley, Jeffrey D. Robinson, Barbara A. Fox, Sandra A. Thompson & Kristella Montiegel
2021. Modulating action through minimization: Syntax in the service of offering and requesting. Language in Society 50:1 ► pp. 53 ff.
Ross, Bella, Janet Fletcher & Rachel Nordlinger
2016. The Alignment of Prosody and Clausal Structure in Dalabon. Australian Journal of Linguistics 36:1 ► pp. 52 ff.
Shor, Leon
2016. Cognitive and interactional motivations for prosodic phrasing: A corpus-based analysis of the clause in spoken Israeli Hebrew. CHIMERA: Revista de Corpus de Lenguas Romances y Estudios Lingüísticos 3:2 ► pp. 325 ff.
So, Connie K. & Catherine T. Best
2014. PHONETIC INFLUENCES ON ENGLISH AND FRENCH LISTENERS’ ASSIMILATION OF MANDARIN TONES TO NATIVE PROSODIC CATEGORIES. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 36:2 ► pp. 195 ff.
Stoenica, Ioana-Maria, Simona Pekarek Doehler & Anne-Sylvie Horlacher
2020. Chapter 3. Emergent complex noun phrases. In The ‘Noun Phrase’ across Languages [Typological Studies in Language, 128], ► pp. 44 ff.
Su, Danjie
2017. Semantics and chunking in written and conversational discourses. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 8:1 ► pp. 51 ff.
Suomalainen, Karita, Anna Vatanen & Ritva Laury
2020. Chapter 2. The Finnish se että initiated expressions. In The ‘Noun Phrase’ across Languages [Typological Studies in Language, 128], ► pp. 12 ff.
Tao, Hongyin
2020. Chapter 11. NP clustering in Mandarin conversational interaction. In The ‘Noun Phrase’ across Languages [Typological Studies in Language, 128], ► pp. 272 ff.
Tao, Hongyin
2022. Multimodal amusement resonance as a conversation interactional device. East Asian Pragmatics 7:3 ► pp. 333 ff.
Thompson, Sandra A.
2019. Understanding ‘clause’ as an emergent ‘unit’ in everyday conversation. Studies in Language 43:2 ► pp. 254 ff.
Thompson, Sandra A.
2021. Understanding ‘clause’ as an emergent ‘unit’ in everyday conversation. In Usage-based and Typological Approaches to Linguistic Units [Benjamins Current Topics, 114], ► pp. 11 ff.
Thompson, Sandra A. & Tsuyoshi Ono
2020. Chapter 1. Introduction. In The ‘Noun Phrase’ across Languages [Typological Studies in Language, 128], ► pp. 2 ff.
Torres Cacoullos, Rena & Catherine E. Travis
2011. Testing convergence via code-switching: priming and the structure of variable subject expression. International Journal of Bilingualism 15:3 ► pp. 241 ff.
Tseng, Shu-Chuan
2006. Linguistic Markings of Units in Spontaneous Mandarin. In Chinese Spoken Language Processing [Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 4274], ► pp. 43 ff.
Tseng, Shu-Chuan
2014. Chinese disyllabic words in conversation. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 5:2 ► pp. 231 ff.
Ueno, Mieko & Andrew Kehler
2016. Grammatical and pragmatic factors in the interpretation of Japanese null and overt pronouns
. Linguistics 54:6 ► pp. 1165 ff.
UENO, MIEKO & MARIA POLINSKY
2009. Does headedness affect processing? A new look at the VO–OV contrast. Journal of Linguistics 45:3 ► pp. 675 ff.
Vatanen, Anna, Tomoko Endo & Daisuke Yokomori
2021. Cross-Linguistic Investigation of Projection in Overlapping Agreements to Assertions: Stance-Taking as a Resource for Projection. Discourse Processes 58:4 ► pp. 308 ff.
Wang, Wei & Hongyin Tao
2020. Chapter 6. From matrix clause to turn expansion. In Emergent Syntax for Conversation [Studies in Language and Social Interaction, 32], ► pp. 151 ff.
Wouk, Fay
2005. The syntax of repair in Indonesian. Discourse Studies 7:2 ► pp. 237 ff.
Xiang, Xuehua
2016. The Teaching of Chinese to Heritage Language Learners at the Post-Secondary Level. In Chinese Language Education in the United States [Multilingual Education, 14], ► pp. 167 ff.
Xie, Dongyue, Hua Chen & Bin Li
2023. Chunks, pauses, and holistic processing in Mandarin spontaneous speech. Frontiers in Psychology 14
Xu, Jiajin
2015. Corpus-based Chinese studies. Chinese Language and Discourse. An International and Interdisciplinary Journal 6:2 ► pp. 218 ff.
Yatziv-Malibert, Il-Il & Martine Vanhove
2015. Quotative constructions and prosody in some Afroasiatic languages. In Corpus-based Studies of Lesser-described Languages [Studies in Corpus Linguistics, 68], ► pp. 117 ff.
Zhang, Wei
2014. 2014 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP), ► pp. 151 ff.
Zhou, Yan
2022. Revisiting the Modal Verb huì with an Interactional Linguistic Approach. Languages 7:4 ► pp. 294 ff.
Zhu, Dongyi
2020. Chapter 3. Conversational narrative marker. In Analysing Chinese Language and Discourse across Layers and Genres [Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse, 13], ► pp. 38 ff.
Zhu, Weihua
2016. Extended concurrent speech and guānxì management in Mandarin
. Text & Talk 36:5 ► pp. 637 ff.
Zhu, Weihua
2022. Perceptions of extended concurrent speech in Mandarin. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA) ► pp. 144 ff.
[no author supplied]
2012. References. In The Handbook of Conversation Analysis, ► pp. 741 ff.
[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
[no author supplied]
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 7 may 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects
Main BIC Subject
CF: Linguistics
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General