Mit die schönsten und heitersten Stunden: System und Gebrauch der Partikelvorkommen von mit im gesprochenen Deutsch

Abstract

This study focuses on the forms and functions of the German particle mit in everyday talk-in-interaction. In the first section it is shown that two types of mit can be distinguished for syntactic and semantic reasons. Type one has characteristics of an additive focus particle which is part of the verbal phrase and occurs in the central part of the middle field. Type two forms a syntactic unit with superlatives and indicates that the referent of the superlative phrase does not exclusively have the respective quality to the highest degree. Hence, it can be classified as an inclusive particle. Even though some instances allow for a reading of mit both as an additive particle and an including particle (in these instances, the including reading is usually dominant since the additive reading would affect a part of the informational background), the additive and the including meaning compete if they affect the same constituent. The second section of this article shows how prosodic features, communicative practices and the topical organization of conversation interact in order to disambiguate local uses of mit or to emphasize either an additive or an including reading of mit.

Keywords

• particles
• scope
• focus
• superlative
• disambiguation
• spoken language