On Common Ground, Context and Information Structure: The Case of Counter-Expectation in Thai

This paper addresses the influences of common ground, context and information structure on the linguistic production and interpretation processes with a special reference to counter-expectation in Thai. It presents, first of all, a fresh view on the operation of the particle lɛɛw45 as a marker of counter-expectation. It also indicates the association of the particle with focus and the influence of common ground and context, both of which control the use and interpretation of lɛɛw45 as well as the conversation flow. Moreover, the unaccounted additional impact of numeral scalarity on the production of a counter-expectation has been detected. The paper applies the Question Under Discussion (QUD) technique in order to account for these phenomena.