| An examination of transcripts of recorded conversation reveals that a significant number of 'direct quotations' used in conversations contain a discourse marker such as well, oh, okay, look, y'know, and hey as the initial item. Direct quotation in conversation differs structurally from the norm of the text, thus drawing attention to that part of the discourse and acting as an evaluative device which reveals speakers' attitudes toward what they are saying. When speakers take the floor in order to tell a story, provide explanations or give advice, they may leave out details of the quotation's context in favour of evaluative aspects. Direct quotations, being pieces of dialogue abstracted from another context, are in particular need of contextualization since understanding in discourse depends on relations between utterances and other interactional moves. If the details of such relations are (at least partially) left out in favour of evaluation, a certain amount of contextualization is necessary if hearers are to effectively interpret the evaluative aspects of the quotation. Discourse markers, by revealing the general tenor of a speaker's underlying thought at some sequential point in an exchange, contextualize quotations by indicating relational aspects between the response given (i.e. the quotation) and some prior move to which it is a response. |
