AN APPROACH TO DISCOURSE MARKERS

Discourse markers are expressions such as now, well, so, however, and then, which signal a sequential relationship between the current basic message and the previous discourse. The purpose of the present paper is to propose that discourse markers be considered a well-defined pragmatic category within the grammar of a language. A framework for sentence meaning is presented within which discourse markers are analyzed as a class of commentary pragmatic markers. The claim that marker meaning is that of the expression when used as part of sentence content (e.g., as an adverbial) is rejected, and a minimal pragmatic core meaning for each discourse marker is proposed. Finally, discourse markers are distinguished from other types of commentary markers, from vocatives, interjections, and from expressions such as oh, y'know, I mean, and because, often treated as a part of this group. © 1990.