Discourse markers in spoken English :  a corpus study of native speakers and  Chinese non-native speakers
This thesis explores the use of discourse markers (DMs) in the speech of Chinese non-native speakers (NNSs) of English and native speakers (NSs), using corpus methodologies, the 'Linear Unit Grammar' analysis (Sinclair and Mauranen 2006) and text-based analyses. It reports that the DMs for analysis, 'like', 'oh', 'well', 'you know', 'I mean', 'you see', 'I think' and 'now', occur more frequently in the dialogic genres than in the monologic genres extracted from the three corpora, SECCL, MICASE and ICE-GB. The co-occurrence of DMs is taken as evidence to determine the categories for discussion with the suggested functions being secondary interpretations. Surprisingly, there are similarities in the use of DMs between Chinese NNSs and NSs. For the differences, some require NSs to become more tolerant and inclusive of the versions of English and some require pedagogical interventions for the Chinese NNSs. This thesis demonstrates that the use of DMs correlates with the genre, context, type of activity and identity of the speaker. All such factors affect the speakers' choice of a DM to use when giving priority to discourse organisation, fluency, the engagement of the listeners, the construction of the speakerâs
Huang, Lan Fen
GT Manners and customs ; HT Communities. Classes. Races ; P Philology. Linguistics ; PE English ; PI Oriental languages and literatures
Discourse markers in spoken English :  a corpus study of native speakers and  Chinese non-native speakers. This thesis explores the use of discourse markers (DMs) in the speech of Chinese non-native speakers (NNSs) of English and native speakers (NSs), using corpus methodologies, the 'Linear Unit Grammar' analysis (Sinclair and Mauranen 2006) and text-based analyses. It reports that the DMs for analysis, 'like', 'oh', 'well', 'you know', 'I mean', 'you see', 'I think' and 'now', occur more frequently in the dialogic genres than in the monologic genres extracted from the three corpora, SECCL, MICASE and ICE-GB. The co-occurrence of DMs is taken as evidence to determine the categories for discussion with the suggested functions being secondary interpretations. Surprisingly, there are similarities in the use of DMs between Chinese NNSs and NSs. For the differences, some require NSs to become more tolerant and inclusive of the versions of English and some require pedagogical interventions for the Chinese NNSs. This thesis demonstrates that the use of DMs correlates with the genre, context, type of activity and identity of the speaker. All such factors affect the speakers' choice of a DM to use when giving priority to discourse organisation, fluency, the engagement of the listeners, the construction of the speakerâs
discourse_marker speak english corpus_study native_speaker chinese non_native_speaker explores use discourse_marker speech chinese non_native_speaker english_native speaker nss use corpus methodology linear unit grammar analysis sinclair text_based analysis report analysis like well you know mean you see think now occur frequently dialogic genre monologic genre extract corpus ice co_occurrence take evidence determine category discussion suggest function secondary interpretation surprisingly similarity use chinese nss difference require nss become tolerant inclusive version english require pedagogical intervention chinese demonstrates use correlate genre context type activity identity speaker factor_affect speaker_choice use give priority discourse_organisation fluency engagement listener construction speaker