The Function of Discousre Marker “WELL” In English and Vietnamese Communication

Abstract

As an important component of the speech system, the status of discourse markers in language research can't be ignored. Discourse markers (often abbreviated as DMs) are a kind of explicit oriented markers in the process of discourse communication, which play a vital role in the generation and understanding of discourse. As a discourse marker, “well” has a number of textual functions; it gives indications of textual problems or regarding the structure of the text. Most often it is used in my data when the speaker has difficulties expressing him/herself and is searching for the right phrase.