Discourse markersare words or phrases likeanyway, right, okay, as I say, to begin with. We use them to connect, organise and manage what we say or write or to express attitude:
[friends are talking]
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.
The discourse markers in this extract have a number of uses:somarks the beginning of a new part of the conversation.
wellmarks a change in the focus (from getting a car loan to needing a car).
rightmarks a response (B is agreeing with C).
anywaymarks a shift in topic (from buying a new car to having driving lessons).
We use different discourse markers in speaking and writing. In speaking, the following discourse markers are very common:
anyway | like | right | you know |
fine | now | so | I mean |
good | oh | well | as I say |
great | okay | mind you | for a start |
In writing, the following discourse markers are common:
firstly | in addition | moreover | on the other hand |
secondly | in conclusion | on the one hand | to begin with |
thirdly | in sum |
Discourse markers do not always have meanings that you will find in your dictionary. However, they do have certain functions, and some discourse markers, such aswell, can have a number of functions.
See also:
Actualandactually
Like
Look
Mind
Okay,OK
Well
Discourse markers that organise what we say
Some discourse markers are used to start and to end conversations. Some are used to start new topics or to change topics.
Starting a conversation or talk
A:Right,let’s get started. We need to get the suitcases into the car.
B:Okay.I’ll do that. Katie, will you help me?
[at the start of a radio interview]
Now, we have with us in the studio today someone you will all know from television. John Rice, welcome to the show.
See also:
Okay,OK
Ending a conversation
[A mother (A) and daughter (B) on the telephone]
A:Sowe’ll see you Sunday, Liz.
B:Right,okay Mum.
A:Okay,see you then, love.
B:Bye, Mum. Thanks for calling.
A:Bye, Liz.
[At the end of a meeting]
A:Anyway,is that it? Has anyone got any questions?
B:No. I think we’re done.
A:Right,fine, thanks everyone for coming. We’ll circulate the documents tomorrow and make some follow-up calls about the project.
See also:
So
Okay,OK
Changing or managing a topic
A:We went to town to buy wallpaper to match thecarpet.
B:Did you try Keanes? They have a sale.
A:We looked there, but Jim said he thought it was too expensive and he didn’t like any of their designs.
B:What does he like?
A:He likes geometric shapes. He hates flowers.Anyway,we eventually found some that we both liked and when we went to pay for it, we realised that neither of us had brought any money. (Anywaymarks a return to the main topic of buying wallpaper.)
Ordering what we say
We also use discourse markers to order or sequence what we say. Some of the common words and phrases which we use for this are:
and | in general | second | to sum up |
and then | in the end | *secondly | what’s more |
first (of all) | last of all | so | well |
*firstly | next | lastly | a … b |
for a start | on top of that | third(ly) |
A:I think Sheila might be having some financial problems at the moment.
B:I don’t think so, Caroline.For a start,she has all the money that her aunt gave her. What’s more, she has a good job and she seems to have a good lifestyle.
Firstly, we are going to look at how to write an essay.Secondlywe are going to look at what makes a good essay and what makes a bad one.Lastly, we’re going to do some writing activities.
We can use the letters of the alphabet (a, bandc), to list reasons or arguments for something:
There are two reasons why I think it’s a bad idea,abecause it’ll cost too much money, andbbecause it’ll take such a long time.
See also:
Numbers:first,second,third
Discourse markers that monitor what we say
As we talk, we monitor (or listen to) what we are saying and how our listener is responding to what they hear. We often rephrase or change what we say depending on how our listener is responding. We use words and phrases such aswell, I mean, in other words, the thing is, you know, you know what I mean, you see, what I mean is.
Saying something in another way
Sometimes, as we talk, we add phrases to show our listener that we are going to rephrase, repeat or change what we are saying. These discourse markers help to make what we say clearer for the listener:
I just had to leave early.What I mean isI hated the show. It just wasn’t funny.
You exercise regularly, you have a good diet and you don’t have too much stress.In other words, I think you have nothing to worry about. Your health seems very good.
I think I’ve found a house I’d like to buy. Well it’s an apartmentactually. It’s ideal for me.
See also:
Actualandactually
I mean
Well
Shared knowledge
When we talk, we think about how much knowledge we share with our listener. We often mark what we think is old, shared or expected knowledge withyou knowand we mark new knowledge that we see as not shared with the listener with phrases likesee, you see, the thing is:
You know, hiring a car was a great idea.(The speaker and the listener know about hiring the car.)
A:Why don’t you come and stay with me when you’re in Lisbon?
B:It’d be difficult. I have to be back in Dublin by Friday.You see,my sister is getting married on Saturday so I won’t have time to visit. (B assumes that A doesn’t know about her sister’s wedding. This is new information)
See also:
See
You know
You see
Discourse markers as responses
As we listen to someone speaking, we usually show our response to what we hear either by gesture (head nod) or by a short response (Mm, yeah, really, that’s a shame). This shows that we are listening to and interested in what is being said. We call these short responses ‘response tokens’.
Common response tokens include:
absolutely | fine | okay | wow |
(all) right | good | quite(more formal) | yeah |
certainly | great | really | yes |
definitely | I see | sure | |
exactly | no | wonderful | |
that’s great/interesting/amazing/awful, etc. | |||
We use response tokens for a number of functions:
To show interest and to show that we want the speaker to continue
A:So he opened the door.
B:Yeah.
A:And he went in very quietly without waking her.
B:Right.
A:He opened her bag and…
To show surprise
A:We’ve decided to go to Africa for a month next year.
B:Oh really!
To show sympathy
A:He can’t play soccer for at least six months. He’s broken his leg.
B:That’s terrible.
See also:
Adverbs as discourse markers (anyway,finally)
Of course
Discourse markers showing attitude
Some expressions are used to mark attitude or point of view in speaking or writing.
Common expressions of attitude are:
actually | frankly | I think | (I’m) sorry |
admittedly | hopefully | literally | surprisingly |
amazingly | honestly | naturally | thankfully |
basically | ideally | no doubt | to be honest |
certainly | if you ask me | obviously | to tell you the truth |
clearly | I’m afraid | of course | understandably |
confidentially | I must admit | predictably | undoubtedly |
definitely | I must say | really | unfortunately |
essentially | in fact | sadly | |
fortunately | indeed | seriously |
If you ask me, Neil is making a big mistake leaving his job to go travelling with his friends.
We willobviouslyhave to pay for the damage done to the window.
The whole problem has been caused,I think, by having too many cars on the road at busy times.
Sadly, Hilda has decided not to come with us.
See also:
Actualandactually
Think
Discourse markers: sounding less direct
We are careful when we speak not to sound too direct or forceful. We use words and phrases such aslike, maybe, sort ofto soften what we say (hedges).
We often use these words and expressions as hedges:
apparently | kind of | perhaps | roughly |
arguably | like | presumably | sort of/ kind of* |
I think | maybe | probably | surely |
just |
* sort ofis more common in British English;kind ofis more common in American English.
Can Ijustask you a question?
We canprobablyadd some more water to the sauce.
Is thisperhapsone of your first times driving a car?
| The statement is hedged or softened so as not to sound too strong or forceful. |
| The statement is not hedged and it sounds more direct and forceful. |
See also:
Hedges (just)
Think
Like
Mind
Well
Discourse markers:umanderm
We can useumto introduce a new topic carefully:
Um, could I ask you a personal question?
Um, there’s something else we need to talk about.
We can useermwhen we pause before saying something, especially when we are not sure about what to say:
He’s…ermhe’s not very pleased with your work, I’m afraid.
Her last book was called…ermwhat was it? I can’t remember the name.
Discourse markers: interjections (Oh! Gosh!)
An interjection is a single-word exclamation such ashooray, oops, ouchwhich shows a positive or negative emotional response:
A:The meeting’s been cancelled.
B:Yippee!
A:I’ve just dropped the box of eggs.
B:Oh no!
A:I don’t think this dessert looks very fresh.
B:Yuck!
See also:
Interjections (ouch, hooray)
Oh