APPENDIX I DISCOURSE MARKERS

APPENDIX I DISCOURSE MARKERS

These are words and expressions used to show the structure of a discourse.

-talking about -with reference to -regarding -as regards -as far as… is concerned

b) STRUCTURING.- 1.- Divisions:

-firstly,… secondly,… thirdly,…. finally place
-for one thing …, for another thing -on the one hand …, on the other hand -moreover -in addition -similarly

2.- Contrast with what came before:

-all the same -yet -still -however -on the other hand -though -by contrast -in spite of that

-first of all

-to begin with

-for a start

-on top of that

-in the first

-besides -as well as that

3.- Logical sequence:

-thus -therefore -so
-for that reason -because of that

4.- Exemplifying and excepting:

-for instance -for example -such as -apart from -with the exception of -etc -and so on -and so forth

5.- Generalizing:

-on the whole -in general -as a rule considered
-in broad outline -broadly speaking -in most cases -in many cases

-including

-namely

-nevertheless

-in particular

-to some extent -to such an extent that… -in short -to cut a long story short -in a word

6.- Clarifying:

– I mean -that is to say -in other words

-at large
-roughly speaking -generally speaking

-everything

-by and large -all in all

c) DISMISSAL OF A PREVIOUS DISCOURSE- expressions often used to mean ‘what is said before doesn’t really matter -the main point is as follows’.

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-at any rate -anyway -anyhow -in any case -the real point is

d) SHOWING OUR ATTITUDE TO WHAT WE ARE SAYING.-

-frankly honestly (often used to introduce critical remarks)
-I think -I feel -I reckon -to my mind -in my view -in my opinion (these are ways of making our opinions sound less definite).
-according to the text -according to the author -in the author’s view
-after all -undoubtedly -no doubt -it goes without saying that… (these are ways of making our arguments sound more categorical and persuasive)
-I’m afraid (shows an apologetic attitude)
– I approve of… / I disapprove of…

e) ADDING FURTHER DETAILS:

-actually -in fact -as a matter of fact -what’s more

f) QUOTING FROM A TEXT IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OR REJECT A STATEMENT: – I think this statement is true / false since…

-according to the text… -according to the author… -in the author’s words… -the text states that… – the text mentions that…

-This statement is supported by the following sentences in the text….

g) STARTING A SUMMARY:

– The text deals with… – The author’s point / view / opinion is that… – I think the text could be summarized in the following way:

WARNING!: avoid by all means *the author wants to say.