K- Part’s Choice of Tag Question at the End of the TCU

Abstract

In daily conversation, there are many types of interrogative questions that can be used to confirm information. In the reporting sequence environment, it is a very dangerous behavior for K- to report to K+ or for K- to give feedback to K+. In the process of sequence development, both sides of the conversation will inevitably show their stance on the relevant events in the turn design. When K - need to make statement for the related event, from the perspective of epistemic primacy, K- Do not have the right to affirm, so K - party usually choose a tag question with optimization at the end of the turn, the purpose is that can show their own emotional tendencies and appropriately at the same time reduce the power of emotional statement. The use of such conversational conventions enables both parties to know each other’s stance while maintaining harmonious social relations. This study uses the method of conversation analysis to explore the specific sequence environment of tag questions and the social effects of tag questions.