| Discourse markers (DMs), a significant and prevalent linguistic phenomenon, play an important role in speech communication. So far, there are varied methods and perspectives of studying DMs, and researchers hold different points of view on their names, classifications, properties and function. However, among these studies, those made on DMs in conversation are much larger in proportion than those on DMs in written texts. What's more, most findings of studies on DMs in written texts lead to the application in EFL writing and the related teaching practices, while few are applied in EFL reading and the related teaching. In view of this, the thesis takes DMs in written texts as the object, studies systematically their metafunctions from the Functional Grammar perspective, analyzes the role that these DMs play in college EFL reading comprehension, and designs a feasible pattern of teaching DMs in college EFL reading class so as to promote the efficiency of college EFL reading comprehension.Specifically, on the basis of a literature review of studies of DMs and an introduction to Halliday's Functional Grammar, the thesis carries out in-depth analyses in three aspects.Textual functions of DMs in written texts:according to the information structure of text, DMs are significant connectors which link the given information and following new information so that they are correlated. In this sense, DMs' textual functions mainly fall at two levels:local and global. At the local (between immediate sentences) level, DMs signal the logical/semantic relationship between the information conveyed by the primary and following sentences; while at the global (a paragraph, group of paragraphs, and the whole text) level, DMs help construct information frame, mark source of information (either in a prior part or outside of the text), and signal topic shifting in a text.Interpersonal functions of DMs in written texts:according the mood structure analysis, DMs with interpersonal functions are in fact comment adjuncts. Therefore, these DMs as a special element of mood structure, help mark the writer's viewpoint of, comment and judgment on, what is said in the text. The interpersonal functions of DMs in written texts play an important role in achieving the smooth and successful exchange between the writer and reader of a text.The guidance of DMs in written texts to college EFL reading comprehension practice and the related teaching practice:firstly, DMs play important roles in EFL reading comprehension of college students. Through examining the authoritative college EFL tests CET and TEM, it is found that DMs function as clues helping the reader to find the topic of text and some details, make effective inference and correct meaning-guess, and understand the writer's viewpoint, attitude and purpose of writing; and as a result, lead them to the correct answers and achieve the two major objectives of EFL reading comprehension, namely, to construct the meaning of text and understand the writer's viewpoint, attitude and purpose of writing.Secondly, on the basis of DMs' role analysis, a feasible functional pattern of teaching DMs is designed according to the basic stages and steps of college EFL reading teaching methods. The purpose of this teaching design is to promote the application of DMs in daily EFL reading of college students, and to guide them to achieve the two major reading objectives consequently and answer correctly the questions in EFL reading tests. The present study draws instructive conclusions in terms of both reading practices of college students and teaching practices of DMs, therefore, it is practically significant in promoting the efficiency of college EFL reading comprehension.At the concluding part of the study, the main findings are drawn and limitations of the study as well as suggestions for further research are put forward.To conclude, this thesis intends to arouse more interests on and attention to the functions of DMs in written texts, and therefore inspire further studies on them. |
PDF Full Text Request