Real Grammar - Susan Conrad, Douglas Biber 2009

Discourse Markers
Unit 48 Well, I better get going

What have you learned from your grammar textbook?

Spoken language sometimes has different features than writing. For example, tag questions are often used in conversation but not in writing.

• You eat ice cream every day, don’t you?

What does the corpus show?

A

One common feature of conversation is “discourse markers.” Discourse markers are short words or expressions with special organizing functions in conversation. Each discourse marker has specific functions. This unit covers three of the common discourse markers in American English: well, okay, and like.

B

The discourse marker well has different functions depending on its position (beginning or middle) in a turn:

C

The discourse marker okay has the following four functions:

D

The discourse marker like has the following two functions:

E

Be careful! Words that function as discourse markers also have other, different functions. For example, I well also often occurs as an adverb (Z did well) or adjective (I feel well).

Activities

1 Notice in context: Read the two conversations. Circle well, okay, and like when they are used as discourse markers.

1. The last ones to lock up and leave the office.

Zayta: I’m just like, nervous. I always like to make sure, take a second look, nothing under there, nothing strange.

Cheong: No, everything looks fine to me.

Zayta: All right, well, listen, thank you so much for staying late.

Cheong: Well, then, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Zayta: Drive safely.

Cheong: Okay, thanks.

2. An expensive wedding present.

Andrea: That antique Chinese chest was like two hundred thousand dollars and he gave it to his wife as a wedding present, you know. It was like a lot of money.

David: Well, any time she wants to sell it, she can sell it for a lot, right?

Andrea: Or if it goes well with her furniture, keep it for a hundred or a couple hundred years.

Besides, it’s nice.

2 Analyze discourse: Look back at Activity 1 and at each discourse marker that you circled. Write its function (for example, lack of certainty or begins direct speech) in the margin. Draw an arrow between the marker and its function. Some discourse markers may have more than one function. Discuss with a partner.

3 Practice the structure: work with a partner. Complete the three conversations with appropriate discourse markers. Pay attention to each one's function. When there is a choice, discuss it with your partner. How would the development of each conversation be different if no markers were used?

Example

A: You can’t be hungry again.

B: WelI, you ate a lot more than I did.

A: Okay, that’s true. Never again.

1. Getting ready for a party.

A: Let’s go over to the house and set up, all right?

B: Um, set up. ..., first I need to get the sound equipment, and ..., actually I’ll call Mike before I pick it up.

A: ..., I’m gonna go, see if I have any messages.

B: ..., see you there in an hour.

2. Finding a place to live.

A: My new roommate left after a week. He goes ... sorry, but my cousin has a cheaper apartment. Anyway, I’d much rather live with you.

B: ..., actually the biggest problem, I think, would be my cat.

A: Let me wait until I ... talk to the doctor about my allergies.

B: ..., then we’ll think about it very seriously.

A: ..., I may have to move out of my apartment either way.

В: I will think about it, and I tell you, at this point it sounds like a good idea.

A: ..., I hope things work out for us. Thanks for thinking of me.

3. Making plans to meet.

A: If I go to Santa Barbara again, I’ll call you and let’s have dinner.

B: ..., give me a call at work. Do you have my work number?

A: ..., when I come out there again, I’ll call you up if you’re still there. It’ll be ... another year. We haven’t been out there in a while.

4 Practice conversation: with a partner, choose one of the situations from the conversations in Activity 3 and create a new dialogue using the discourse markers well, okay, and like Use each discourse marker at least once, and be prepared to explain the function of each one. When you are finished, practice your dialogue with your partner.

Situation:

A: ...

B: ...

A: ...

B: ...

A: ...

B: ...