Expressing digression linguistically: Do digressive markers exist?

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between digressions and topic shifts in the light of the Spanish marker por cierto. Against the standard explanation, which takes digression as a well-established linguistic operation, digression is regarded as a rhetorical operation, underspecified at the linguistic level. The most conspicuous trace of digression, the so-called digressive markers, cannot be distinguished from topic shifters on the basis of the instruction provided by the marker alone. Thus, both types of markers should be grouped together as a single class, that of “new relevant information markers” (NRIMs). The perceived differences between topic shifters and digressive markers are due to the interaction between two parameters: on the one hand, the instruction provided by the marker and, on the other hand, the discourse unit covered by the scope of the marker. Val.Es.Co's theory of discourse units will be applied to provide this account with a stronger theoretical background.