The particle ne as a turn-management device in Japanese conversation

Abstract

This paper is a study of the Japanese final particle ne from the perspective of conversation analysis. It is shown that ne acts as a pivotal device employed by participants for turn-management and topic-management in naturally-occurring conversational interaction. This particle is occasioned in four different positions within a turn: turn-initial, turn-internal, turn-final locations, as well as occupying an entire turn. In each case, it can be employed to regulate speakership and listenership among participants, but its occurrence in these positions is respectively associated with distinct types of turn-taking operations: to mark turn-entry points, acknowledgement-relevance places, possible transition-relevance places, and topic changes. Furthermore, ne can also be featured in the performance of a wide range of other practices, depending on its positioning and the immediate sequential context: e.g. summoning, repair initiation, displaying affiliation, collaborative construction of talk, competing for the floor, inviting affiliation, and reconfirming an agreed point. In sum, the particle ne is an extremely versatile tool contingently mobilised by speakers for diverse interactional activities and for the achievement of intersubjectivity.