Discourse Markers: Pragmatic Functions in Communication

Study Notes

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"