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Part of
Discourse Phenomena in Typological Perspective
Edited by Alessandra Barotto and Simone Mattiola
[Studies in Language Companion Series 227] 2023
► pp. 295–336

Chapter 11
Highlighting beginning, end, or transition in-between

Topic-shift conceptions in English, Ainu, and Japanese

 | Hokkaido University of Education
 | Fuji Women’s University
This study presents a cross-linguistic analysis of episode- and topic-shift conceptions based on two types of spoken discourse (narrative and conversational) in English, Ainu, and Japanese. Markers of episode/topic-shift can serve to highlight different phases of episode/topic boundaries in conceptual terms: the end of a preceding episode/topic, the beginning of a newly introduced episode/topic, or a transitional phase between them. Ainu tends to manifest an end-oriented conception of both topic-shift in conversation and episode-shift in narrative. Japanese also exhibits a similar inclination in conversation, though not in narrative. English prefers a beginning-oriented conception of episode/topic-shift in both conversation and narrative with little inclination toward an end-oriented conception.
Keywords: topic-shift, episode-shift, phase, beginning, end, and transition
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Minimal structure of topic/episode-shift or boundary
  • 3.Episode-shift in narrative discourse
    • 3.1Episode-shift in an Old English epic and narratives
    • 3.2Episode-shift in an Ainu epic and narratives
    • 3.3Episode-shift in a Japanese epic and narratives
    • 3.4Different preferences in episode-shift marker conceptions
  • 4.Topic-shift in conversational discourse
    • 4.1Topic-shift as a solution to topical-talk breakdown
    • 4.2Different phases of topic-shift conception in English
    • 4.3Topic-shift conception in Japanese
    • 4.4Topic-shift conception in Ainu
    • 4.5Different preferences in topic-shift conception
  • 5.Some conceptual correlations and motivations
    • 5.1Aspectual conception and topic/episode-shift
    • 5.2Speech-event conception and topic/episode-shift
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 1 March 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.227.11izu
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