This paper aims to analyze the functions and characteristics of ‘ne/ye’ in news interviews, with specific focus on the neutrality and ambiguity of ‘ne/ye’ used by interviewers. In respect of its distribution, the interviewers used ‘ne/ye’ in the middle of the interviewees’ turn or after the interviewees completed a sentence. On the other hand, with regard to its functions, ‘ne/ye’ coming after the interviewees' completed sentences functioned as a continuer or an indicator of the interviewers' turn, while ‘ne/ye’ in the middle of the interviewees’ turn always functioned as a continuer. When used by interviewers, ‘ne/ye’ appeared ambiguous in its functions, given that ‘ne/ye’ was used consistently in the opening, Q&A sequences, and closing by the interviewers, and that ‘ne/ye’ could be used and interpreted as either a continuer or an indicator of the interviewers' turn. Based on the ambiguity of ‘ne/ye’, this paper concludes that both the interviewers and interviewees could keep interacting with each other by comprehending ‘ne/ye’ as a sign of turn-taking, thus enabling the interviewers to sustain neutrality throughout the entire talk and naturally allowing them to be loyal to their task of obtaining sufficient information from the interviewees to convey to the audience.

Abstract
1. 서론
2. 데이터와 방법론
3. 분석결과
    3.1. ‘네/예’가 중의성을 가지는 경우
    3.2. ‘네/예’가 중의성을 가지지 않는 경우
    3.3. ‘네/예’ 이외의 표지를 사용한 경우
4. 결론
참고문헌
부 록

• 손지연(MA Student, Department of English Language and Literature, Yonsei University) | Jeeyeon Sohn