Stance-taking and (inter)subjective roles of Mandarin zhende (ma/a)

Abstract

This study explores the non-interrogative functions of the newsmark zhende (ma/a) (‘really’) in Mandarin conversation interaction, focusing on its stance-taking and (inter)subjective roles in systematically context-sensitive ways. Drawing on spontaneous conversational data and a discourse-pragmatic approach, we identify affective, evaluative, and alignment stances associated with zhende (ma/a) that extend beyond its epistemic function as a reaction to unexpected information and its affective role as an expression of surprise. The nuanced stance-taking activities reveal three key manifestations of (inter)subjectivity, primarily tied to the stance object targeted: (1) a device for involvement and rapport-building responding to irrelevant information; (2) an emotionally charged stance marker when addressing relevant information; and (3) a buffering mechanism for managing awkward moments, maintaining rapport in response to assessments directed at the zhende (ma/a) speaker. Additionally, the syntactic position of zhende (ma/a) also facilitates its intersubjective impact, particularly regarding its metadiscursive function. This study highlights the nuanced interplay between stance-taking and (inter)subjectivity and underscores the importance of contextual features in interpreting the non-interrogative functions of newsmarks, offering valuable insights into stance-taking and its (inter)subjective roles in Mandarin conversation interaction and beyond.