A conversation analysis of self-praising in everyday Mandarin interaction

As part of a larger effort to explore how the Chinese substantiate their concept of modesty in interpersonal communication, this article reports the results of a conversation-analytic study of the self-praising behavior of the Chinese in everyday social encounters. Drawing on a corpus of approximately 35 hours of audio- and videotaped face-to-face conversations collected in Beijing and Hebei, China during 2001–2010, I examine three previously undescribed or under-described practices that are observed in my data to be used in the service of self-praising in Mandarin conversation. These practices are what I call ‘the designedly bipartite [self-praise plus modification] turn format,’ ‘disclaiming an extreme case situation,’ and ‘treating the matter ostensibly as complainable.’ In addition to their turn design, I also discuss and provide a possible account for the interactional contingencies that give rise to the use of these practices.

► This CA study examines the self-praising behavior of Mandarin speakers. ► The analysis draws upon 35 hours of face-to-face conversations collected in China. ► Three previously under-described practices used for self-praise are noted. ► Their turn design and the contingencies that give rise to their use are discussed.