A Relevance- Theoretic Analysis of Discourse Markers in Lulogooli Conversations

Abstract

This study focussed on the analysis of Discourse markers in conversations in Lúlogooli. The focus was particularly on conversations that occurred naturally. Using the characteristics identified by Schruoup (1999); Schifrin (2002) to mention a few were used to pick out DMs in the recorded conversations. It was noted that DMs are used in communication to do the following: enhance cohesion (unity in a discourse). It is important to note that cohesive markers occur in both spoken and written discourse. However, they may be used ‘unexpectedly’ in spoken discourse; DMs in Lulogooli are also be used to highlight the next discourse, the speaker uses such DMs as utterance initial to seek the hearer’s attention; DMs in Lulogooli are used by the speaker to hold a turn before the next speaker speaks: DMs in Lulogooli are used to constrain the way the hearer should interpret the speaker’s meaning. DMs are therefore procedural just as noted by earlier researchers such as Blakemore (2002), Yus (2012) among others. During communication, the speaker and the hearer have the same goal of achieving maximum relevance and therefore everyone wants to be understood. Therefore, the speaker makes his or her speech in a manner that is easy to be understood. This is achieved by use of DMs. Therefore, RT accounts for DMs. It was noted that Lúlogooli cohesive markers are not so different from English cohesive markers. However, there are a few different usages where cohesive markers in Lúlogooli can occur utterance initial which is unique in conversations. RT therefore adequately explained the pragmatic functions of Lúlogooli DMS.