话语标记语I think的语用功能研究_英语论文

A Pragmatic Study of ‘I think’ as a Discourse Marker in Spoken Language

摘要

本文以言语交际中的话语标记语I think 为研究对象，以英语国家语料库和中国英语学习者语料库为基础，重点探讨I think 的语用功能，并且探讨I think在中国英语口语学习者中的使用情况。研究发现I think在句中位置的不同，其语用功能也会发生变化。但我国英语学习者总体上来说只能使用其“表达观点”的功能。定性分析显示，我国英语学习者仅能较好的理解其“展开话题”和“表达观点”的功能。定量分析显示，与英语本族使用者相比，我国英语学习者过多的使用I think，并且不是很理解I think的各项语用功能在口语交际中的实际运用。本文研究表明在口语教学中，我国英语教师应该在语言教学中应充分讲解以I think 为代表的话语标记语的各种语用功能，从而提高学习者的口语水平。

关键词：话语标记语；I think；语用功能；语料库

Abstract

This paper makes a study of I think, discourse marker, in spoken language, based on British National Corpus and Chinese Learner English Corpus. The research focuses on studying the pragmatic functions of I think and the use of I think by Chinese English learners and native speakers respectively. The research finds that position difference of I think expresses different pragmatic functions. Moreover, most of Chinese English speaker just make use of one of its functions-expressing to articulate personal opinions. Qualitative analysis shows that Chinese English learners just understand some of its functions- expressing one’s opinion and initiating turn. Quantitative analysis shows that Chinese English learners overuse I think in spoken English and they don’t understand actual utilization of its all kinds of pragmatic functions. The study indicates that in oral English class, English teachers should adequately explain the pragmatic functions of discourse marker, represented by I think, which can help to improve students’ spoken English. 

Key words: discourse marker; I think; pragmatic functions; corpus