Abstract
Abstract
This study examines three major response particles, o/ou, en, and a in Mandarin
conversation. Using the framework of interactional linguistics, this study examines the actions implemented by these particles and
their associated prosodic patterns. It discovers that, while these three particles have shared functions, they show interactional
nuances that allow for more fine-grained actions. It also reveals that different particles tend to have a similar prosodic design
when they implement the same action. This study sheds light on the detailed workings of these particles both prosodically and
interactionally in Mandarin speakers’ everyday conversation, contributing a specific case to further cross-linguistic
comparison.
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company