Abstract

Discourse Markers is a very common phenomenon in the verbal communication It has important discourse functions in communication. The use of speaking discourse markers in Modern Chinese shows high frequency and wide range application. Therefore, the study of more comprehensive system of speaking DMs has an extremely important theoretical significance and application value. This book is based on the theories of coherence and cohesion, grammaticalization with which the compliance of description and explanation, form and meaning. On the basis of previous research we illustrate and analyse the Chinese speaking DMs and its formal features, pragmatic functions and the formation of motivation mechanisms.

The main contents of this book could be summarized as follows：

1. Define the discourse markers, to build the Chinese DMs system. First of all, we define the discourse markers, distinguish with the independent components such as parenthesis, etc., and classify discourse markers.

2. Build the speaking DMs system in Chinese. We discuss the speaking DMs of definition, features and classification and analyse of formal features and semantic features of speaking DMs, propose form and semantic classification standards as well as specific classification.

3. Study the textual function and interpersonal function of speaking DMs. We sum up the five textual functions: topic functions, discourse source functions, inference functions, elucidation functions, annotation functions. We also summarize out the three interpersonal functions: the attitude evaluation functions, the imperative functions and the speaking modes functions.

4. Case studies. We select three typical speaking DMs to do more detailed case studies. That is, the topic type speaking DMs“V-YIJU”, the speculated speaking DMs“SHUO BU X”, frankly style speaking DMs“SHUO X LE”, in order to have a more comprehensive grasp of its specific functions and their sources.

5. Dynamic analyse and point out that the speaking DMs is the concept of the continuum. Discusses the state and motives and mechanisms of speaking DMs in different dynamic communicative context, obtain five motives and mechanisms.

Keywords: discourse markers; speaking discourse markers; Chinese;textual function; interpersonal function