Abstract
AbstractThis study takes us to the South Pacific and concentrates on Bislama, one of the dialects of Melanesian pidgin (Siegel 2008: 4) and one of the official languages of Vanuatu. We take a discourse analysis perspective to map out the functions ofale, a conspicuous discourse marker in conversations and narratives. UsingLabov & Waletzky (1967)model, we analyze the use ofalein narratives from the bookBig Wok: Storian blong Wol Wo Tu long Vanuatu(Lindstrom & Gwero 1998) and determine thataleis a discourse marker which indicates temporal sequence and consequence, frames speech reports and closes a digression. We conclude our study by considering a possible historical development ofale. We map out how Frenchallezcould have become Bislamaaleusing imposition and functional transfer (Siegel 2008;Winford 2013a) of vernacular discourse markers (such asgoin Nguna).
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