Japanese interactional particles as a resource for stance building

• Previous studies of ne and yo associate these particles with particular meanings.
• This article proposes an interactive model of stance building and particles’ roles.
• Interactional particles are primarily for negotiating conversational action.
• Various stance meanings are secondary products of these particles’ use.
• Different levels of stance manifest as they are linked together by local agendas.

The Japanese interactional particles (IPs) ne and yo are often described as discrete attitudinal, affective, and/or epistemic stance markers that directly index particular ‘interior cognitive states’ or ‘psychological domains’. Conversely, this paper argues that such particles are instead irreducibly public resources that conversationalists employ to negotiate their respective positioning within the ever-shifting participation frameworks structuring real-time face to face interaction. It demonstrates, in particular, how various stance ‘meanings’ emerge by virtue of the placement of the IPs in a particular sequential position within an on-going activity first and foremost. I also demonstrate how different levels of ‘stance’ (i.e., reading of one's interlocutor's self-positioning) can manifest as they are linked together by local interactional agendas, interpersonal concerns, sociocultural preferences, and linguistic ideology. Such publically displayed ‘stances’ range from speakers’ concerns regarding micro-level contingency issues to higher-level accomplishments that are built upon such micro-level negotiation, such as the formation of membership categories, the forging the affiliative alliances, and the socially sanctioned displays of ‘politeness’ and ‘respect’.