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Discourse Markers

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097 Nurul Hilmy
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12 views12 pages

Discourse Markers

Uploaded by

097 Nurul Hilmy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discourse Markers

General Points

• a particle that is used to direct or


redirect the flow
of conversation without adding any
significant paraphrasable meaning to
the discourse
• generally come at the beginning of
clauses and sentences,
• Appear in spoken or written
discourse.
Functions
FUNCTION Discourse markers

To preface what you really think Actually, I have to say

To confess that something is true I must admit

To give yourself time to think Well

To start, end or change topic Right, so, anyway

To say something in another way What I mean is, in other words

To talk about knowledge we share


You know, you see
with listener
My point is, what I’m getting at is,
To introduce personal opinion
I mean, I guess
Excerpt 1

A: So, I’ve decided I’m going to go to the bank


and ask for a car loan.
B: That sounds like a good idea.
C: Well, you need a car.
B: Right.
A: Anyway, I was wondering if either of you
would teach me how to drive.
Excerpt 2

The food I ate last night probably gave


me food poisoning, so, unfortunately,
I’ve been up all night. The first thing I
am going to do is show you the broken
screen, then I’m going to show you
how I fixed it and finally, I’m going to
teach you how to fix it.
Common spoken discourse
markers (chunks)
actually now I was wondering if
basically okay all the best
anyway see all sorts of thing
and yeah so I don’t know
what it is
yeah well something like that
I mean you know I don’t know if
let's see you see I was going to say
like you know what I mean
wow oh
Common spoken discourse
markers (chunks)
Tell me Tell me something Meanwhile
Don't tell me. Wow So what!
If you say so… Oh! I see. Obviously
In fact You mean...? Say. Incidentally
Exactly By the way Believe me
Come on. As if... However
Not at all Never Oh! Sure
No way Not a chance Anyway
By all means Of course Definitely
Surely Certainly
Discourse Markers list

Basic form
Meaning and formal More formal Most Formal
use
additionally
besides
further
equally
also furthermore
important
first, second, etc. in addition
ADDITION moreover
last but not least
similarly
next
not only... but
also
too
accordingly
as a result
then as a
CAUSE– for this reason
therefore consequence
EFFECT thus
consequently
hence
Discourse markers list

Basic form
Meaning and formal More formal Most Formal
use
as well as
also both... and by comparison
like compared to in common with
COMPARISON
too in the same way similarly
likewise in like manner
neither... nor
conversely
instead in contrast to
nevertheless in opposition to
CONTRAST however on the other hand on the contrary
otherwise
still
whereas
Discourse markers list

Basic form
Meaning and formal More formal Most Formal
use
after a while
after that
also
at last
afterward
currently
at the same time
earlier
concurrently
eventually
formerly psimultaneously
TIME finally
immediately subsequently
first, second,
in the meantime reviously
etc.
later
in the future
in the past
last
next
now
Discourse markers list

Basic form
Meaning and formal More formal Most Formal
use
as an example
for instance
for example as an
EXAMPLE in other words
illustration
to exemplify
accordingly
after all as a
all in all consequence
at last in brief
briefly in closing
SUMMARY- Finally
consequently in conclusion
CONCLUSION therefore
last in short
on the whole in sum
thus in summary
to conclude
to summarize
Thank You

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