Gli usi modali di ben: un’analisi qualitativa preliminare

In Trentino Alto-Adige, the particle ben shows geographically marked uses with modal particle-like functions. At the pragmatic-conversational level, ben is used to refute what has been previously asserted or (potentially) inferred, or to elicit confirmation or refutation from the interlocutor. Referring to the model employed by Bross (2012) for the description of the effects of German modal particles on CommonGround, the aim of this paper is both to identify these functions of ben and discuss them from a qualitative point of view, providing a preliminary descriptive model.