A Relevance-theoretical Approach To Discourse Markers In English Speeches In FLTRP Cup English Public Speaking Contest

As a typical speech phenomenon in English, discourse markers such as well, you know, and, actually are frequently used in daily life so that they are one of the hot issues concerned in pragmatic study. Though this linguistic phenomenon is given different names, definitions, classifications and functions in the enquiry of the area, it is agreed that discourse markers do not affect the truth conditions of the utterance but express the meaning of attitude and step in communication. The core significance of discourse markers is the procedural meaning and non-conceptual meaning.In literature, the study of discourse markers is generally undertaken in three approaches: coherence-based approach, grammatical-pragmatic approach and relevance-theoretical approach. In the current study, the author intends to apply the relevance-theoretical approach to exploring the features and functions of discourse markers in English speech context. In terms of relevance theory, discourse markers are one of the important linguistic tools that speakers use to make their speech easier for the hearer to get the optimal relevance in communication; and for hearers they help them to deduce the implicature of the speech as they take the role of ostensive stimuli relevant to the hearers’ contextual assumption with the least possible effort.In the framework of relevance theory, this thesis adopts quantitative and qualitative methods to study the discourse markers in 70 English speeches at authoritative English speaking contest in China ——FLTRP Cup English Public Speaking Contest. The 70 English speeches include 35 prepared speeches and 35 impromptu speeches. The thesis is built around the issues as follows: 1. What are the distributions and frequencies of discourse markers in English public speaking contest? 2. Is there any difference in the use of discourse markers between prepared speech and impromptu speech? 3. What are their pragmatic functions? 4. Is there any help for EFL learners in learning to use discourse markers to make wonderful speeches? According to the investigation, the frequencies and distributions of DMs in English speaking contest have been displayed, and their pragmatic functions have been illustrated, which may be conductive to the Chinese EFL learners’ understanding of DMs in the context of public communication, and apparently the study will provide enlightenments for improving the learners’ communicative skills of English language. It is found in this research that first, DMs are highly and widely used in English public speaking contest, and their positions are diversified, the difference of DMs uses between impromptu speeches and prepared speeches is not obvious; second, in English speech contest, the pragmatic functions of DMs are drawing attention and interest, reducing the distance, giving a further explanation, strengthening and persuading introducing contextual implications and self-repairing; third, advanced EFL learners can employ DMs smoothly both in prepared speeches and impromptu speeches, but some DMs are overused and some are underused. Besides, the top ten DMs in impromptu speeches and in prepared speeches are almost the same except their orders.For the presentation of the above research tasks, the thesis goes with the following six chapters. The first chapter is the introduction which states the research background, the significance and purpose of the study, and also the structure of the thesis. Chapter two reviews the previous studies both at home and abroad, which includes the definitions, features, functions and classifications of DMs. In terms of the previous research, the working definition of DMs is confirmed in this thesis. In this chapter, the previous studies on public speaking are also concluded. The third chapter depicts the theoretical framework of the study —— Relevance Theory, which includes the principle of relevance, ostensive-inferential communication, etc. and the relevance theoretical view of DMs is also elucidated. Chapter four serves the methodology of the present study. The author gives the research questions, methods, research instruments, and then describes the source material. Chapter five is the main part of the thesis. First, with the help of research instruments, the distribution, frequencies and percentages of DMs usage in English public speaking contest is displayed; second, the contribution of appropriate employment of DMs is investigated after the analysis of the different positions of DMs in speech. With the combination of quantitative and qualitative studies, the pragmatic functions of DMs in speech contest are revealed in this part. The last chapter is the conclusion in which major findings are summed up; the suggestions for making successful speeches in contest are put forward, and the limitations and suggestions of the study are also presented.