METADISCOURSE VS. DISCOURSE MARKERS

The aim of this paper is to define the concept of metadiscourse more thoroughly by comparing it to discourse markers. The comparison has been drawn for two reasons. Firstly, discourse markers have received considerable attention thus far, especially in Serbian linguistic literature. Secondly, we have noticed certain overlaps, which is why we have examined similarities and differences in approach. In the first part of the paper we have presented the concept of metadiscourse and the most important taxonomies (Vande Kople, Crismore et al. and Hyland). Then we have analysed three approaches related to discourse markers: Schiffrin's approach based on coherence, Fraser's approach based on grammatical and pragmatic aspects and Blakemore's approach based on relevance theory. A detailed analysis has confirmed some common characteristics, but it has also pointed to a different range, content, dominant approach and former applications of metadiscourse and discourse markers.