‘Doch’ and ‘toch’ as discourse signals in German and Dutch: A cross-linguistic experimental study

Discourse relations can be marked by discourse connectives but can also be indicated by non-connective signals. This study examines how the German modal particle doch and its Dutch translation equivalent toch interact with discourse structure and whether they function as such non-connective discourse signals. A rating study using oral stimuli confirms that both particles interact with discourse relations in the same way: We find that in the two tested languages, doch and toch are more acceptable in causal discourse relations than in circumstance and condition , matching the predictions by Döring (2016). In a second study, a forced-choice experiment, participants were tasked with choosing a connective for ambiguous contexts that allow for multiple interpretations of discourse relations present, thus indicating which relations they perceive in the presented context. The results show that doch and toch signal the relation concession , as participants’ response of the concessive connective increased in the presence of either particle. Our findings suggest that modal particles can serve as non-connective discourse signals with similar effects across languages. • German “doch” and Dutch “toch” interact with discourse structure. • The modal particles are rated as acceptable in causal discourse relations. • Forced-choice experiment shows these particles signal concessive relations. • Modal particles can act as non-connective discourse signals across languages.