Expressing (inter)subjectivity with universal quantification: A pragmatic account of Plural NP + dou expressions in Mandarin Chinese

Abstract

Dou ‘all, already, even’ is one of the most frequently used adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. While there is a vast literature on the nature and development of this token (widely known as a ‘universal quantifier’), there is virtually no analysis of dou expressions in interactive discourse. In this paper we use conversational data to investigate the discourse contexts and social interactive functions of dou expressions. Our findings show that quantification expressions with dou are more commonly used for (inter)subjectivity - building rapport, establishing common ground, and mitigating (apparently) conflicting stances - than for objectivity. We propose a continuum of rapport and the underlying intersubjectivity principle to account for the diverse range of uses of dou expressions in conversation. We take this to show that a discourse pragmatic approach can shed new light on seemingly objective expressions in Chinese and beyond.