Discourse Markers: Pragmatic Functions in Communication

Discourse Markers: Pragmatic Functions

Discourse markers are words or phrases that serve a pragmatic function in communication, helping to manage the flow of conversation, signal relationships between ideas, and convey the speaker's attitude or stance.

Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Markers

Structuring Discourse

• Discourse markers can be used to:
  • Introduce topics or subtopics (e.g., "now," "anyway")
  • Signal transitions between ideas (e.g., "meanwhile," "in addition")
  • Mark boundaries between discourse segments (e.g., "so," "okay")

Managing Interaction

• Discourse markers can be used to:
  • Invite response or feedback from the listener (e.g., "right?", "you know?")
  • Manage turn-taking and speaker roles (e.g., "oh," "excuse me")
  • Express politeness or deference (e.g., "please," "I mean")

Conveying Attitude and Stance

• Discourse markers can be used to:
  • Express emotions or attitudes (e.g., "wow," "unfortunately")
  • Hedge or soften the force of a statement (e.g., "kind of," "I think")
  • Convey irony, sarcasm, or humor (e.g., "yeah, right," "no way")

Signaling Relationships

• Discourse markers can be used to:
  • Indicate cause-and-effect relationships (e.g., "so," "as a result")
  • Show contrast or unexpectedness (e.g., "but," "however")
  • Signal similarity or analogy (e.g., "likewise," "similarly")

These pragmatic functions of discourse markers help to create a more collaborative and effective communication process.

Discourse Markers: Pragmatic Functions

Structuring Discourse

• Introduce topics or subtopics using discourse markers like "now" and "anyway"
• Signal transitions between ideas with markers like "meanwhile" and "in addition"
• Mark boundaries between discourse segments with markers like "so" and "okay"

Managing Interaction

• Invite response or feedback from the listener with markers like "right?" and "you know?"
• Manage turn-taking and speaker roles with markers like "oh" and "excuse me"
• Express politeness or deference with markers like "please" and "I mean"

Conveying Attitude and Stance

• Express emotions or attitudes with markers like "wow" and "unfortunately"
• Hedge or soften the force of a statement with markers like "kind of" and "I think"
• Convey irony, sarcasm, or humor with markers like "yeah, right" and "no way"

Signaling Relationships

• Indicate cause-and-effect relationships with markers like "so" and "as a result"
• Show contrast or unexpectedness with markers like "but" and "however"
• Signal similarity or analogy with markers like "likewise" and "similarly"