Chapter 3 The pragmatic function of yidian
3.1.2 Zou‟s study (1999) on the construction „A yidian‟
Zou (1999) in her study focuses on discussing the construction „A yidian‟. She first mentions that the suffix –le can apper in the „A yidian‟ construction and lead to the „A le yidian‟ construction. Then, Zou suggested that the construction „A yidian‟
does display strong pragmatic function because the adjectives in the „A yidian‟
construction are mostly the colloquial ones. For example, gaoxing and yukuai both means „glad‟, but gaoxing tends to appear in „A yidian‟ more because it is more colloquial than yukuai. Besides, Zou (1999) also discusses the function of yidian in „A yidian‟ and her claim agrees with that of Chen‟s (2011). Zou suggests that yidian can mitigate the degree of the adjective when a speaker is making a statement, comment or order.
Zou‟s discussion is quite enlightened. However, in addition to not obseving that there are constructions other than „A le yidian‟, Zou‟s discussion is not without problems. First, it is too assertive for Zou to claim that yidian in all the „A yidian‟ in affirmatives displays hedging function. It is hard to interpret yidian as a mitigator in (3.6):
(3.6) (Zou 1999: 2)
只是他想的官大一點，錢多一點。
Zhishi ta xiang de guan da yidian, qian duo yidian.
only 3S want DE position big a little money much a little „It‟s just that he desires for a higher position and more money.‟
As a result, Zou seems doesn‟t take into consideration that yidian in „A yidian‟ has semantic meaning which denotes the differential between two compared objects as discussed in Chapter 2. Yidian is understood as its propositional meaning when isn‟t interpreted as a mitigator.
Second, Zou seems too hasty to make the conclusion that yidian displays its hedging function when speakers are making orders. In some cases, yidan doesn‟t seem to be a mitigator in imperatives as in (3.7):
(3.7) (Zou 1999: 2)
你輕一點，我的胳臂都快被你折斷了！
Ni qing yidian, wo de gebei dou kuai bei ni zheduan le!
2S light a little 1S Poss arm all almost by 2S broke ITJ „Be tender! You almost break my arm!‟
In (3.7), the speaker exaggerates the situation by saying that the addressee almost breaks his arm. The speaker says that because the addressee‟s action causes extreme pain in his arm. As a result, it is hard to conclude that yidian in (3.7) functions as a mitigator and that the speaker uses yidian to mitigate the degree of qing „tender‟
because a person may not care about politeness in the situation like (3.7).
3.2 Constructions in which yidian displays hedging function
3.2.1 ‘bijiao A yidian’, ‘A le yidian’, and ‘tai A le yidian’
It is found that when making a comment, a speaker may stand on two different point of views. In one situation, the speaker makes a comment from the view point of the current state. Three constructions may be produced under this condition. One of them is „bijiao A yidian‟ as in (3.8) in which the speaker is talking about his teacher:
(3.8) (Academia Sinica) A: 你說他怎樣?
Ni shuo ta zenyang?
2S say 3S how
„What did you said about him?‟
B: 他就是比較情緒化一點…
Ta jiushi bijiao qingxuhua yidian…
3S then compare emotional a little „He is a bit emotional…‟
Through the observation, it is also found that yidian can display its hedging function in „A le yidian‟ as in (3.9) and (3.10). In (3.9), the Speaker B is making criticism on the cup of tea which Speaker A just brewed for him:
(3.9) A: 茶好喝嗎？
Chai hao he ma?
tea good drink SPF?
„Is the tea good?‟
B: 淡了一點。
Dan le yidian.
weak PFT a little „It‟s a bit weak.‟
In (3.10), a student complains that the teacher‟s class is boring and the teacher defends for himself:
(3.10) Student: 你的課真的很無聊。
Ni de ke zhede hen wuliao.
2S Poss. class really very boring „Your class is really boring.‟
Teacher: 我只是「衰」了一點教英文。
Wo zhishi sui le yidian jiao yingwen.
1S only unlucky PFT a little teach English „I just lack a bit of luck and teach English.‟
Finally, it is also observed that yidian can be interpreted as a mitigator in the construction „tai A le yidian‟ in which tai is roughly equivalent with too in English. In (3.11), Speaker A and B are comment on their friend, Susan, with the „tai A le yidian‟
construction:
(3.11) (NCCU)
A: Susan 會不會太沒自信了一點？
Susan hui bu hui tai mei zixin le yidian?
Susan can NEG can too NEG confidence PFT a little „Don‟t you think Susan lacks a bit too much confidence in herself?‟
B: 對我覺得太沒自信了一點 。
Dui wo juede tai mei zixin le yidian right 1S feel too NEG confidence PFT a little „You‟re right. I think she lacks a bit too much confidence in herself.‟
In the above data, since the speakers are making comments on the view point of the current state, the adjectives in the „bijiao A yidian‟, „A le yidian‟, and „tai A le yidian‟ constructions denote the states in reality. With the mitigator yidian, the degree of the adjective is lowered and the speaker‟s utterance is softened.
3.2.2 A yidian
The reason why the „A yidian‟ construction is different from the constructions in 3.2.1 is that in this situation, the speaker is making comments on the view point of his or her expectation in mind. Therefore, the adjective in „A yidian‟ denotes the
speaker‟s expectation. In most cases, yidian displays its hedging function most when the speaker is making criticism toward current state which is undesirable to him/her, as in (3.12):
(3.12) 他瘦一點會更好看。
Ta shou yidian hui geng hao kan.
3S thin a little can more good-looking „He will look better if he is thinner.‟
In (3.12), the speaker thinks that the third person he refers to is fat or heavy, which is not desirable to him. Instead of producing the utterance pang le yidian or bijiao pang yidian „a bit fat‟ in „A le yidian‟ or „bijiao A yidian‟ construction, the speaker
expresses his comment by uttering his expectation with the „A yidian‟ construction and states that the person would be more good-looking if he were thinner. Note that when the speaker produces the „A yidian‟ with the adjective describing the speaker‟s expectation, the hearer can infer the implication that the current situation is „not A enough‟ for the speaker. For example, there is the implication „not thin enough‟ in (3.12)
It is important to emphasize that in the situation in which the speaker is commenting on the viewpoint of his/her own expectation with the „A yidian‟
construction, the mitigator yidian does softentens the speaker‟s utterance but yidian doesn‟t lower the degree of the adjective. On the contrary, it enhances the degree of the adjective because the speaker is expressing that the situation would live up to his/her expectation more if the degree of the adjective is enhanced a bit. In (3.12), the speaker is commenting that the person would be more good-looking if the degree of being thin is enhanced. Therefore, in this situation, for a hearer, yidian enhances the adjective in the‟A yidian‟ construction but it still softens the speaker‟s utterance because in reality, the speaker may think that the degree should be enhanced a lot instead of just a bit.
If the speaker is making a suggestion or giving an order to the addressee with the
use of the „A yidian‟ construction in the main clause, it can be seen as the speaker
As it has been mentioned, both Chen (2011) and Zou (1999) argue that the employment of yidian follows the Tact Maxim when the speaker is making a request or suggestion. However, it is argued in this paper that yidian doesn‟t contribute much to mitigation in order, a category of imperatives (Bach & Harnish 1979).
First, yidian is not the main factor to reduce the tone of the speakers in
imperatives of making orders. Lin (1981) finds that the Chinese particle ba can soften the speaker‟s tone when suggestions and request are conveyed. Li (1981) also
mentions that ba can express solicit agreement. Lee-Wong (1998) conducts a research on how Chinese particles ba, a/ya, and ne help to reduce the illocutionary force of imperatives in direct requests. In her terms, particles ba, a/ya, and ne have an impact on the pragmatic meaning of direct request (Lee-Wong 1998: 13). In addition, Lee-Wong (1994) finds that native speakers of Mandarin Chinese tend to mitigate imperatives with polite expressions such as mafan ni „brother you‟ and qing „please‟.
Through these previous studies, it can be suggested that with particles such as ba and polite expressions, A-imperatives sound softer. This suggestion can be proved by the result of the survey that 76 out of 100 native speakers consider Qing anjing „Please be quiet‟ sounds softer than Anjing yidian „Be quiet‟.
Second, although native speakers may agree that imperatives such as Anjing „be quiet‟ sounds softer than Anjing yidian, the sense of mitigation is quite context-based.
According to a survey conducted to junior high students whose mother tongue is Chinese, about 88 out of 100 students think that Anjing and Anjing yidian expressed
by the teachers don‟t sound different to them. They think both expressions are authoritative. Some of the students add in the survey that the orders of the teachers won‟t sound soft unless the teachers express the orders with qing „please‟ or baituo
„could you please‟. Their judgment may be explained by the fact that the power relation is clear in a classroom context. Therefore, in this context, yidian doesn‟t display the hedging function. In addition to the classroom context, the sense of mitigation provided by yidian in imperatives of making orders isn‟t sensed in an arguing context. For example, it is common that people utter (3.14) when they feel they are being insulted by the addressee:
(3.14) 放尊重一點！
Fang zunzhong yidian!
put respect a little „Be respectable!‟
None of the speaker will agree that yidian here can hedge the illocutionary force of the speaker. Besides, it should be taken into consideration whether the speaker really intends to use yidian to mitigate his or her order in situation such as (3.14).
3.2.3 The comparison between the two kinds of situations
In the situation discussed in 3.2.1 (Situation 1), it is known that the speaker can make a comment on the viewpoint of the reality and states that the current situation is
„a bit A‟ compared with his/her expectation. Therefore, yidian not only softens the speaker‟s utterance but mitigates the degree of the adjective. In the situation discussed in 3.2.2 (Situation 2), the speaker makes a comment on the viewpoint of his/her own expectation and states that the situation lives up to his/her expectation more if „the degree of A‟ is enhanced a bit. As a result, yidian in Situation 2 also softens the speaker‟s utterance, but it enhances the degree of the adjective, which is different from Situation 1.
Although the two yidian in the two situations vary from each other, the two situations can actually refer to the same issue. This is because what makes the two yidian „sound‟ different is the speaker‟s perspectives. Take (3.12) for example, the speaker can still comment that the person in the utterance is not thin enough in the way in Situation 1, as shown in (3.12 b):
(3.12 b) 他胖了一點。
Ta pang le yidian.
3S fat ITJ a little „He is a bit fat.‟
In (3.12 b), the speaker makes the comment on the viewpoint of the reality with the „A le yidian‟ construction. In (3.12 b), yidian mitigates the degree of heaviness. Although the two yidian seem to be different in (3.12) and (3.12 b), the hearer knows that the
speaker is actually expressing the same thing with different perspectives. This is similar to Kuno‟s (1987: 203-205) analogy of perspective-taking as „camera angles‟ in filming a scene where a camera is placed at one person/thing‟s position while
monitoring the other people/things. In (3.12b), the speaker comments on the viewpoint of the reality and stated that compared to his/her own expectation, the person referred to is a bit too fat. Therefore, yidian sounds like lowering the degree of heaviness; however, to be more precisely, yidian mitigates the differential between the reality and the speaker‟s expectation.
In (3.12), the speaker makes the comment „Ta shou yidian hui geng hao kan‟ on the viewpoint of his/her own expectation. As a result, in this perspective, the speaker is stating that the current should make some change to „move forward‟ to his/her expectation. The speker uses yidian to soften his/her utterance and states that „a bit‟
change can be made so that the situation can be more desirable. As a result, for the hearer, yidian enhances the dgree of the adjective shou „thin‟; however, to be more specific, yidian mitigates the room for the improvement between the reality and the speaker‟s expectation. As a result, the two yidian in the two situations both reach the goal of mitigating the differential between the speaker‟s expectation and the reality but in different ways because of the change of the speaker‟s perspectives.
The concept discussed above can be shown in Figure 3.1:
Figure 3.1 the concept of Situation 1 and Stuation 2
3.3 The triggers that cause yidian to display its hedging function
3.3.1 Politeness principle
This paper agrees with Chen‟s (2011) suggestion that in some cases, the speaker flouts Gricean‟s Maxims (Grice 1975) to follow politeness principle (Leech 1983) as in (3.9), which is repeated here:
(3.9) A: 茶好喝嗎？
Chai hao he ma?
tea good drink SPF?
„Is the tea good?‟
B: 淡了一點。
Dan le yidian.
weak PFT a little „It‟s a bit weak.‟
In (3.9), Speaker A is producing a yes/no question with ma, the question marker, at the end of the sentence. Speaker B apparently flouts the Maxim of Relevance because he doesn‟t respond „yes‟ or „no‟ to speaker A‟s yes/no question. This is because Speaker B isn‟t satisfied with the tea but he doesn‟t want to be too harsh since Speaker A brews the tea for him. Therefore, instead of answering „No, it‟s not,‟ Speaker B employs expresses his dissatisfaction with the comment „a bit weak‟ and yidian is used in the comment.
However, it seems that the use of yidian as a mitigator in some cases can‟t be explained with Chen‟s (2011) argument as in (3.5) which is repeated here:
(3.5) (NCCU)
A: ….她那個眼線就到這邊之後再勾起來
… Ta na ge yanxian jiu dao zhebian zhihou zai 3S that CL eyeliner then reach here after then gou qilai
hook up
„….She had drawn her eyeliner until here and then hooked up.‟
B: [@@]
A: …我就覺得這樣…有點太蠢了一點
… Wo jiu juede zheyang… youdian tai chun le yidian 1S then think like-this a little too stupid PFT a little „I think it‟s a little stupid like this.‟
It has been mentioned that in (3.5), Speaker A doesn‟t really have to mitigate his utterance because the person he is neither making criticism against Speaker B nor talking about a person who Speaker B knows. However, Speaker A still employs yidian as a mitigator.
Data (3.15) is a data in Chen (2011) that requires further discussion:
(3.15) (Chen 2011: 51) A: …原來我被騷擾了…
…Yuanlai wo bei saorao le…
result in 1S by harass PFT
„…it turned out that I was sexually harassed…‟
B: …你也太慘了一點吧….
…ni ye tai can le yidian ba…
2S also too miserable PFT a little ITJ „…how miserable it was…‟
Chen (2011) argues that in this case, yidian deepens the extent of misery in the comment made by speaker B. In other words, Chen implies that in this example, the degree of misery in tai can le yidian is stronger than tai can le „too miserable‟.
However, the result of the survey conducted in this paper appears to be opposite.
According to the survey, 92 out of 100 native speakers feel the stronger tone of misery in tai can le. Based on the native speakers‟ judgment, yidian can be seen as a
mitigator instead of showing speaker B‟s sympathy. If speaker B wanted to show sympathy in this example, he would simply say „tai can le‟, the stronger degree, because according to the Sympathy Maxim in Politeness Principle, speakers should maximize sympathy between themselves and the addresses (Leech 1983:132).
As a result, it seems that the politeness principle cannot account for the phenomenon why a heaer or addressee knows that the speaker is using yidian as a mitigator in every situation. There must be other factors that trigger yidian to be interpreted as a mitigator.
3.3.2 Constructions
It is discussed in section 3.2 that there are certain constructions in which yidian appers and is a mitigator. Therefore, the question whether it is the constructions that make yidian function as a mitigator such as the „tai A le yidian‟ construction.
In the „tai A le yidian‟ construction, tai „too‟ can indicate an unfavorable state.
According to Xiao (2012), tai is polysemous and one of the meanings is „describing an adjective reaching to a higher degree than is allowed‟(Xiao 2012: 35). Therefore, tai shows that the speaker thinks that the degree of the state denoted by the adjective is a lot more than allowed. As a result, yidian is used to hedge the strong tone of tai.
Additionally, Shuai (1999) discusses the „tai A le yidian‟ construction and he also suggests that yidian in this construction can mitigate the strong tone brought about by tai.
Although the „tai A le yidian‟ construction may be an example to support the idea that it is the constructions that make yidian function as a mitigator, it seems that the explanation is only appropriate to the „tai A le yidian‟ construction. As mentioned in the previous section, there are several constructions other than the „tai A le yidian‟
construction in which yidian is a mitigator such as „bijiao A yidian‟. In the case of the
„bijiao A yidian‟ construction, it is not persuasive to conclude that this construction can trigger the function of hedging of yidian. Besides, if the „bijiao A yidian‟
construction could trigger yidian to be interpreted as a mitigator, (3.16) could be a problem:
(3.16) 我想設計得比較簡單一點….
Wo xiang sheji de bijiao jiandan yidian…
1S want design DE compare simple a little
„I want to design the house and make it looks a bit simpler…‟
In (3.16), the speaker is a house designer and she is expressing how she will design the house and that she will design the house into a style of simplicity. In this case, most native speaker will agree that yidian remains its semantic meaning rather than function as a mitigator. As a result, the „bijiao A yidian‟ construction won‟t trigger yidian to display its hedging function. There must be other factors come into play.
3.4 Subjectivity and intersubjectivity
Through the discussion in the last section, it seems that there are other factors which cause the speakers to employ yidian as a mitigator. The paper suggests that subjectivity and intersubjectivity can be seen as the main factors. According to Lyon (1982):
The term subjectivity refers to the way in which natural languages, in their
The term subjectivity refers to the way in which natural languages, in their