On establishing I think as a final particle in interactions: Some comparisons with sentence-final particles in Japanese

- I think in final position has specific functions as a final particle.
- The basic function of I think is to present an appraisal indicating interpersonal concern and attentiveness to the interactional role and setting.
- I think shares the primary features of both the particles yo and ne in Japanese.

This paper explores the function of I think in utterance-final position and attempts to establish its status as a final particle (FP). The pragmatic functions of I think are compared to those of sentence-final particles (SFPs) in Japanese, and the final particle-ness of I think is examined in terms of its placement in the so-called 'right periphery.' The findings suggest that the basic function of I think is to present an appraisal indicating interpersonal concern and attentiveness to the interactional context. In essence, I think presents the utterance as part of a set of reciprocal actions and implicitly solicits a responsive action by the recipient. Despite differences in intensity, these intrinsic functions of I think are comparable to those suggested for the Japanese SFPs yo and ne. The study concludes that final I think has specific functions as a FP distinct from those of its initial counterpart, indicating different types and/or levels of (inter)subjectivity.