Sugoi! – Indexicality and stancetaking in Japanese compliments. (29th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adachi, Chie
• Is Part Of: Language in society. Volume 45:Number 2(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2016-01-29
• Subjects: Sociolinguistics -- Periodicals; 305
• DOI: 10.1017/S0047404515000974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-4045

Abstract

Abstract: In this article, I explore the notions of indexicality and stancetaking practice through the analysis of a single lexical item embedded in the speech act of complimenting among young Japanese speakers. After revisiting prominent frameworks of indexicality and stance, I illustrate the ways in which the lexical item sugoi 'amazing' performs multiple pragmatic functions: as a marker of praise, surprise, or mock impoliteness; an intensifier; or silence-filler in the act of complimenting. On the basis of extensive sociolinguistic interviews and ethnographic metadata, I discuss how and why Japanese speakers use the variants sugoi and sugee to build intricately on their indexical field in the context of complimenting. I argue that sugoi and sugee, canonically assumed to index speaker gender, are used as a linguistic resource to perform larger interactional functions and stancetaking practice among young Japanese speakers. (Compliments, indexicality, stance, interactional analysis, Japanese, pragmatic function)*