The Role Of Discourse Markers In Inferential English Reading

English reading is one of the most important language skills and plays an important part in English teaching and learning. The process of reading is just a process of making inference and a good command of inferential capability can help the readers have a good understanding of the text. Without inference, there will be little or no comprehension. As an important capability in English reading, inferential capability should be given enough attention.In recent years, the researches on discourse markers are mainly on the discourse markers in spoken language, especially on their function of pragmatics, there are few researches on the discourse markers in written discourse. From the coherence perspective, this thesis studies discourse markers and discusses the role of discourse markers in inference during English reading.The author chose two parallel classes of freshmen from Jinan Vocational College as the subjects of the research. One class was assigned to an experimental class and the other to a control class. The experiment lasted 8 weeks. Before the training stage, both the experimental class and the control class were given the investigation about the knowledge on discourse markers and the pretest on inferential capability. Then in the experimental class, the process of English reading teaching was accompanied with the analysis of discourse markers while there was no analysis of discourse markers in the control class. After the training both the experimental class and the control class took the post-test and 20 of the experimental class were interviewed. Based on the analysis of the data of the questionnaire, the two reading tests and the interview, it can be found that the inferential capability of the experimental class improves more than that of the control class. The hypothesis is confirmed that the analysis in English reading can help to improve the students'inferential capability.Through the literature review and the experimental study, the analysis of discourse markers is expected to be efficient in improving inferential capability in college English reading. This study would offer some suggestions to collage English reading teaching and research. Finally, the author points out the limitations of the study and gives suggestions for further researches in this field.