Conversational Uses of Mandarin Chinese Buran ('Not So') in Casual Conversations

Chinese buran , literally meaning ‘not so,’ can be a marker of negative conditionality expressing the speaker’s (un)desirability toward some event and can be used to introduce a proposal or suggestion. Although many studies have analyzed buran , most of them have examined its usage in written texts and have focused on its meaning and/or functions as a negative conditional conjunct. In conversation, buran frequently co-occurs with questions in “nonconventional uses” and as such deserves closer attention. This study attempts to explore both the conventional and nonconventional uses of buran in casual conversation. The data show that buran can indicate a wide range of alternativeness, from absolute opposition to relative opposition. Specifically, as a marker of negative conditionality, buran provides a nonevent that might take place to highlight the significance of a real event in a preceding proposition. As a marker of alternativeness and a device for making suggestions, buran can be used to open up semiotic space for alternative interpretations. Additionally, buran can appear in a non-aligned, contesting context when there is a need to negotiate common ground between the speaker and the hearer. Moreover, buran can serve as a marker of mock impoliteness to express insincere politeness.