Abstract:Research has shown that if discourse markers are taken away from the matrix clauses they are attached to, they won’t make a difference to the sentences’ original proposition. But they may cause pragmatic failure and bring disadvantages to the interpersonal adjustment. This thesis mainly discusses pragmatic functions of discourse markers taking“You Know” as a representative of discourse markers. In different contexts and different pragmatic premises, “You Know” have different pragmatic functions. The main functions are working as a repair marker, an addition marker, an insufficiency marker, a turn government marker, an interpersonal relationship marker. The thesis is aimed at helping people pay more attention to mastering discourse markers’ pragmatic functions in speech communication and associated conditionality. Accordingly, the accuracy and fluency of English expression could be well improved. Meanwhile, speakers can express their words more coherently.      

Key words: pragmatic functions; discourse markers; “You Know”

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

  1.1 Trigger of the Research  

  1.2 Outline of the Thesis

2. Literature Review.2

  2.1 Overview of Studies on Discourse Markers

   2.1.1 Previous Studies and Definitions of Discourse Markers

   2.1.2 Basic Features of Discourse Markers

  2.2 A Pragmatic Study of Discourse Marker “You Know”

3. Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Marker “You Know”.5

  3.1 “You Know” as a Repair Marker  

  3.2 “You Know” as an Addition Marker   

  3.3 “You Know” as an Insufficiency Marker  

  3.4 “You Know” as a Turn Government Marker  

  3.5 “You Know” as an Interpersonal Relationship Marker 

4. Conclusion9

Bibliography10

Acknowledgements.11