A Study On Functions Of Pragmatic Markers In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Pragmatic markers are linguistic expressions that usually go unnoticed by speakers and hearers alike but often appear with high frequency and perform a variety of functions in daily communication.Studies of pragmatic markers have for decades called much attention to researchers both at home and abroad.Nevertheless,few of them have focused on pragmatic markers in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.Based on turn-taking analysis,cooperative principle and politeness principle and by means of both quantitative and qualitative approaches,this thesis examines functions of pragmatic markers in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.Similar to earlier investigations,the present study finds that pragmatic markers in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn act as attention-attracting devices,frame markers,face-threat mitigators,hesitation or delay markers,repair markers,markers of insufficiency,markers of contrasting ideas,markers of attitude or emotion and indicators of new information in turn management.Different from existing studies,the current research discovers that pragmatic markers in the novel also function as markers of common ground,reminding markers,seekers for confirmation and reassurance,indicators of given information in turn management and are used as markers against racism or slavery,shapers of Huck,shapers of Jim,shapers of other notable characters,markers for localism and colloquialism in fiction interpretation.The findings above demonstrate that pragmatic markers in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn fulfill important functions in turn-taking and fiction-developing processes.On the basis of previous investigations,the present thesis makes an attempt of innovations in research content and perspective by expanding or deepening certain functions of pragmatic markers and providing a new angle to the analysis of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn respectively,which will be of inspiring significance to future studies.