On an emerging paradigm of sentence-final particles of discontent: a grammaticalization perspective

► This paper analyzes grammaticalization of sentence-final particles of discontent (SFPDs) in Korean. ► The SFPDs mark the speaker's attitudinal stance of discontent toward the discourse situation. ► The SFPDs are formed from three different source constructions, all involving a question form. ► The grammaticalization process of SFPDs is closely related to the audience-blind style and feigned monolog. ► SFPDs further develop into mirative and politeness markers due to their features of counter-expectation and indirectness.