Response Markers in Urdu: A window into the syntax-pragmatics interface

Title: Response markers in Urdu: A window into the syntax-pragmatics interface This doctoral thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of the polar response marker system in Urdu, arguing that it constitutes an integrated socio-grammatical module. The research demonstrates that these markers do not merely express agreement or disagreement but form a sophisticated, rule-governed system for encoding social meaning. The analysis reveals how the combinatorial syntax of complex response markers directly maps onto fine-grained distinctions in social hierarchy and epistemic stance. A key contribution is its theoretical distinction between formality and politeness, arguing that formality correlates with high social distance between interlocutors, while politeness concerns linguistic appropriateness within a given context. The model further establishes that familiarity can be maintained within formal communication when social distance is low. Framed within the Interactional Spine Hypothesis, the study provides a precise account of the syntax-pragmatics interface, showing how grammar is fundamentally shaped by the demands of social cognition. By systematically deconstructing the Urdu response paradigm, this work offers a window into the interplay between linguistic structure and the structure of human social interaction.