On Pragmatics of Contrastiveness: The Discourse Marker But in English, Thai, and Korean

Abstract

This paper analyzes the contrastive discourse marker (CDM) but in English, Thai, and Korean, based on oral data transcriptions and drama and movie scenarios. An analysis reveals that the CDMs in the three languages carry multiple functions along with their primary function of signaling contrastiveness. The notion of contrast may be applicable to diverse levels, but in the global or metatextual level, the contrast may involve the management of interaction, topic, information and interlocutor. The majority of the functions are shared in the three languages surveyed, but there are also unique functions in each language. This state of affairs points to the universality of cognitive mechanisms as well as the differences of socio-culturally motivated discursive strategies.