How we change what others think, feel, believe and do |
Discourse Markers
Techniques > Conversation techniques > Sustaining the conversation > Discourse Markers Pause markers | Contrast markers | Contradiction markers | See also
Discourse markers are words that signal a change of some kind across a conversation, marking where the discourse is taking a different direction. Discourse markers thus form boundaries between one section or subject and another. Discourse markers may well be conjunctions, as these are natural grammatical connectors between phrases. Discourse markers may also not be grammatically correct in their use, but in spoken language this is seldom important. They may not even be real words and are used outside of normal syntactical structures. Pause markersSounds such as 'ah', 'er', 'um', are used to fill spaces in a conversation. They signal that the speaker...
ExampleI want to...ah...tell you about...er...something that is rather awkward...uh... Expectation markersThe expectation markers signal 'here comes something different', preparing the listener for a difference of some kind. It may be an alternative view of the current topic or it may be a completely new topic. It may be in agreement with the speaker or may be something that contrasts. Expectation markers include: actually, in fact, anyway, in addition, I mean, well, you see. ExampleIn addition, I would like to include Mick in the team. Well, you see, I don't know about that. Actually, that doesn't make sense to me. Focus markersFocus markers add emphasis to a part of what is said, effectively saying 'pay attention here, this bit is important'. Focus markers are often colloquialisms which have special meaning within different social groups include: like, you know, yeah, and I say, in particular. ExampleThis is something, listen here, that man is good. I was going there, like, and, you know, it was cool. And I say this was the best song tonight. See alsoSchiffrin, D. (1987). Discourse Markers. Cambridge University Press Lenk, U. (1998): Marking Discourse Coherence: Functions of Discourse Markers. Tubingen: Gunter Narr Verlag
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| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings | |
Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories | |
Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help | |
More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes | |
Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate | |
| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links | |
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