Publications

Publication details [#64392]

Tao, Hongyin and Haiping Wu. 2018. Expressing (inter)subjectivity with universal quantification: A pragmatic account of Plural NP + dou expressions in Mandarin Chinese. Journal of Pragmatics 128 : 1–21.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Place, Publisher
Elsevier

Annotation

By assaying conversational data, this paper explores dou, a comprehensively studied so-called universal quantifier in Mandarin Chinese. It displays that quantification in conversational discourse is mainly for (inter)subjectivity rather than for objectivity. It displays that quantification is frequently used in the service of building rapport, achieving common ground, and softening of (seemingly) conflicting stances.