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Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term

Many studies have investigated discourse connectors. However, researchers are still grappling with the term in terms of its definition and classification in particular. Many researchers use the term discourse markers (DMs) while others have used terms like linking words, connectives, discourse opera...

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Main Authors: Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani, Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah, Mukundan, Jayakaran, Tannacito, Dan J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IDOSI Publications 2012
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/1/Discourse%20connectors%20an%20overview%20of%20the%20history%2C%20definition%20and%20classification%20of%20the%20term.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/
https://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj19(11)2012.htm
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spelling my.upm.eprints.442152020-07-09T07:25:53Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/ Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah Mukundan, Jayakaran Tannacito, Dan J. Many studies have investigated discourse connectors. However, researchers are still grappling with the term in terms of its definition and classification in particular. Many researchers use the term discourse markers (DMs) while others have used terms like linking words, connectives, discourse operators and discourse connectors to refer to the same idea. This paper attempts to better define the term and propose a classification of DCs in written discourse. As is evident from the literature, researchers are unable to agree on the best definition for the term connectors or what is generally known as discourse markers. Researchers in the field have put forward a few different definitions and descriptions of what connectors are and their function in language and some researchers have also developed their own taxonomy and classification for connectors. After reviewing research conducted on connectors, we decided for purposes of this paper to use the term ‘discourse connectors’ mainly because we believe these connectors function to link one portion of information to another one in a text and that while the term discourse marker is a suitable term for spoken discourse, its definition and classification may vary for written discourse. We define DCs as words and expressions that can be accommodated within the text to join one sentence with another sentence or one paragraph to another paragraph or even one idea to another. Finally, we attempt to offer a comprehensive definition and classification of discourse connectors with the aim to provide a better understanding of what DCs are and how they function, with variation from previous reviews of the term. IDOSI Publications 2012 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/1/Discourse%20connectors%20an%20overview%20of%20the%20history%2C%20definition%20and%20classification%20of%20the%20term.pdf Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani and Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah and Mukundan, Jayakaran and Tannacito, Dan J. (2012) Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term. World Applied Sciences Journal, 19 (11). pp. 1659-1673. ISSN 1818-4952; ESSN: 1991-6426 https://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj19(11)2012.htm 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.19.11.1990
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description Many studies have investigated discourse connectors. However, researchers are still grappling with the term in terms of its definition and classification in particular. Many researchers use the term discourse markers (DMs) while others have used terms like linking words, connectives, discourse operators and discourse connectors to refer to the same idea. This paper attempts to better define the term and propose a classification of DCs in written discourse. As is evident from the literature, researchers are unable to agree on the best definition for the term connectors or what is generally known as discourse markers. Researchers in the field have put forward a few different definitions and descriptions of what connectors are and their function in language and some researchers have also developed their own taxonomy and classification for connectors. After reviewing research conducted on connectors, we decided for purposes of this paper to use the term ‘discourse connectors’ mainly because we believe these connectors function to link one portion of information to another one in a text and that while the term discourse marker is a suitable term for spoken discourse, its definition and classification may vary for written discourse. We define DCs as words and expressions that can be accommodated within the text to join one sentence with another sentence or one paragraph to another paragraph or even one idea to another. Finally, we attempt to offer a comprehensive definition and classification of discourse connectors with the aim to provide a better understanding of what DCs are and how they function, with variation from previous reviews of the term.
format Article
author Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani
Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah
Mukundan, Jayakaran
Tannacito, Dan J.
spellingShingle Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani
Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah
Mukundan, Jayakaran
Tannacito, Dan J.
Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
author_facet Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani
Abdullah, Ain Nadzimah
Mukundan, Jayakaran
Tannacito, Dan J.
author_sort Kalajahi, Seyed Ali Rezvani
title Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
title_short Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
title_full Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
title_fullStr Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
title_full_unstemmed Discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
title_sort discourse connectors: an overview of the history, definition and classification of the term
publisher IDOSI Publications
publishDate 2012
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/1/Discourse%20connectors%20an%20overview%20of%20the%20history%2C%20definition%20and%20classification%20of%20the%20term.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44215/
https://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj19(11)2012.htm
_version_ 1672612199116308480
score 13.211869

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