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Abstract
This paper examines the pragmatic functions of the pragmatic marker (pm, cf. Fraser 2009) jiushi in Chinese and further categorizes its functions as a discourse marker (dm) indicating elaboration and contrast, and a discourse management marker (dmm) signaling topic establishment, hesitation and self-repair. Previous research (cf. Zhang 2002) suggests that the development of jiushi involves a progression of meaning changes that were first subjectified, then textualized and eventually inter-subjectified. This paper, however, taking a constructional point of view argues that when jiushi is constructionalized into a conjunct, it automatically inherits from the pre-existing conjunct schema the subjective, textual, and intersubjective properties. (Inter)ubjective properties are increased when jiushi is further constructionalized into a pm. Such an analysis argues that the textual, subjective, and intersubjective qualities are independent, and each may in principle shift (or not) at any moment/order and characterizes the development of procedural structures without placing the diachronic concepts on a cline.
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