Negotiating Interpersonal Meaning in Khorchin Mongolian: Discourse and Grammar

Abstract

This thesis describes the interpersonal discourse semantic and lexicogrammatical systems in Khorchin Mongolian based on conversational data within the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). The systems described in this thesis are resources for enacting social relations. They are modelled at the strata of discourse semantics and lexicogrammar. The point of departure of this thesis is interpersonal discourse semantics. Extant descriptions of resources at exchange and move rank (the systems of NEGOTIATION and SPEECH FUNCTION (Martin, 1992)) are expanded to account for the discourse patterns in the Khorchin Mongolian conversational data. The thesis first explores interpersonal resources at the ranks of exchange and move. At exchange rank, it describes the NEGOTIATION system based on patterns of exchange structure. At move rank, it proposes the systems of INTERLOCUTOR POSITIONING and DIALOGIC POSITIONING. INTERLOCUTOR POSITIONING deals with the positioning of interlocutors with respect to their knowledge of the information under negotiation or their responsibility for performing an action. DIALOGIC POSITIONING deals with the positioning of dialogic alternatives in the process of interaction. These discourse semantic systems are then taken as the point of departure for the description of interpersonal systems in lexicogrammar – specifically the major systems of MOOD, PREDICATION, and STANCE. MOOD is concerned with indicative and imperative clauses, PREDICATION with resources realised through the Predicator, and STANCE with the interaction between interpersonal particles and TENSE. This thesis makes two significant contributions. First, it closely examines the relationship between discourse semantic systems at exchange and move rank. The systems developed could potentially be relevant to the description of other languages. Second, it provides a unified account of what has been described under various headings in the traditional descriptions of Khorchin Mongolian, such as clausal syntax, modality, evidentiality, negation and tense. It thus affords an integrated systemic functional description of Khorchin Mongolian interpersonal discourse and grammatical patterns.