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.