3 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................... 14
3.1 Unidirectionality in Semantic Change ................................. 14
3.2 Constructionalization and Constructional Change ................................ 15
3.3 Context of Culture and Context of Situation ............................. 15
4 METHODOLOGY ....................................... 18
4.1 Research Methods ............................................. 18
4.1.1 Synchronic and Diachronic Approaches ..................................... 18
4.1.2 Comparative and Contrastive Approaches .................................. 18
5 DISCOURSE FUNCTIONS OF FREESTANDING MAXIMIZERS ............ 21
5.1 Responsive Functions of Freestanding Maximizers ..................... 21
5.1.1 Confirming Response .................................. 21
5.1.2 Accepting Response .................................... 23
6. Findings and Discussion
6.1 Unidirectionality in Development of Freestanding Maximizers
The frequencies of six freestanding maximizers in different functions are presented in Tab. 6.1. It is obvious that absolutely, totally, and quite are used as the freestanding form more frequently than other three maximizers. Specifically, absolutely predominates in these freestanding maximizers in all the functions. Moreover, the functions of confirming response and approving response can be performed by all these freestanding maximizers. In a similar way, the functions of enhancing confirmation or negation and back-channeling are also performed by most freestanding maximizers, except for extremely and entirely. Furthermore, other functions present a tendency to be concentratedly assumed by absolutely.
7. Conclusions
7.1 Major Findings
This paper is focused on freestanding forms of maximizers proposed by Quirk et al.[1], including absolutely, totally, quite, completely, extremely, and entirely. Starting from the synchronic perspective, the discourse functions of these freestanding maximizers are summarized based on the spoken data. In general, the results reveal that absolutely, totally, and quite are the three main candidates among the six freestanding maximizers for speakers to select in conversations. Moreover, absolutely takes the central position among these three maximizers and it possesses various functions, some of which cannot be performed by other freestanding maximizers.
Specifically, the results indicate that freestanding maximizers can serve the functions of responses and discourse markers. The functions of responses are composed of the functions of confirming response, accepting response, approving response, promising response, and ironic response. With respect to the functions of discourse markers, they encompass the textual functions of ending a turn or a topic and the metatextual functions of enhancing confirmation or negation, mitigating disagreement, and back-channeling.
Furthermore, different functions have their own preferences for different maximizers. There are two functions perform
