Pragmatic Functions Of Discourse Marker"well"

With the continuous development of research in pragmatics, discourse markers has become a rapidly developing field in the language research. The study of discourse markers originated in the1970s. Since then, many linguists and scholars have strong interest in the study of discourse markers. Some scholars tend to study the pragmatic functions and translation of one marker, or simply study the pragmatic functions of a marker or several markers. Other scholars study on the use of discourse markers by Chinese non-English majors as well. However, although the study on discourse markers is numerous, few studies have been done on the different usage of discourse markers based on gender.The thesis analyzes and elaborates the pragmatic functions of discourse marker well under different context in Friends (the first season), the American sitcom, then it contrasts the different usage of discourse markers between men and women through a series of data analysis. Well, as a discourse marker, shows various pragmatic functions under different contexts. It does not constitute a propositional meaning or the basic semantics, but it has rich pragmatic effect. Well plays a very important role in this sitcom in terms of frequency. There are totally363well, of which331times have pragmatic functions used as a discourse marker.This study found that the pragmatic functions of well mainly manifested in the following three aspects:textual function, informative function and interpersonal function. From the perspective of relevance theory, in the ostensive inferential process, well can express several emotions like exclamation, surprise, relief and compromise. It can also be used as repair marker, delay marker, conclusion marker, initiation marker, face-threat mitigator, topic shifter, insufficiency marker and turn-taking marker. DMs create a mutual cognitive context for both sides, and then make them achieve optimal relevance.At the very beginning of this thesis, the author introduces the background of the study, explains the purpose and significance of the study. The author elaborates some different definitions of discourse marker by some well-known linguists in this field from their own perspectives, reviews the history of DMs study at home and abroad, analyzes the pragmatic functions of well based on the Relevance-Theory adopted in this research, and gives a gender-based contrastive analysis of well with the help of views from Lakoff and some other linguists. It may have some limitations and insufficiency because the thesis only analyzed the conversations in the first season of Friends.This research can help language learners understand and use the discourse marker well more correctly and grasp the pragmatic functions of well accurately. By understanding the pragmatic functions of DMs in verbal communication, people will pay more attention to the pragmaticality of grammatical and syntactical structure. Most language structures are not only the syntax constraints, but also the pragmatic effect issue which is more important. That’s why the language learners, such as the Chinese students make many errors in the process of using a foreign language. It can help to upgrade the listening and reading ability in foreign language teaching and studying.