The Japanese Particle yo in Declaratives: Relevance, Priority, and Blaming

This paper presents a novel analysis of two central uses – Davis’ (2011) “guide to action” and “correction” uses – of the Japanese discourse particle yo occurring in declarative clauses. Yo with a rising contour instructs to update the modal base for priority modality relativized to the hearer, thereby indicating that the propositional content is relevant to what the hearer should and may do. Yo with a non-rising contour has a function to indicate that the hearer should have recognized the propositional content beforehand. The two uses of yo share the property of being concerned with the hearer’s duties.