The discourse function of the Chinese particle NE in statements

This paper proposes that, in statements, the discourse function of the Chinese particle NE is hearer engagement. By using NE, the speaker draws the hearer’s attention to the information marked by the particle and urges the hearer to adjust shared common ground (CG) accordingly with regards to the current interaction. The need for such a NE marking in statements arises in interactions when the information preceding NE is perceived by the speaker to exist and to be relevant but is absent from the context. In action terms, the particle marks CG negotiation. Typically, the use of NE in discourse as found in the data is associated with counter moves contradicting the hearer’s claim, assumption or expectation, or with supporting moves stating reasons for the speaker’s position. Historically, the function of NE in statements is derived from its original use as a locality marker li (inside) (Ohta 1987: 350), which marks the existence of an action or state. This existence-marking underlies the particle’s core meaning and its discourse function in statements.