摘要：
This study explores co-occurrence patterns and register variation of metadiscourse markers in spoken language. The few metadiscourse studies in spoken language have concentrated on specific metadiscourse markers or registers. This article conducts a more comprehensive analysis of metadiscourse in spoken discourse. Drawing on a modified reflexive model of metadiscourse, the study uses multidimensional analysis and a corpus of 126 spoken texts to extract spoken metadiscourse dimensions and investigate metadiscourse variation across nondiscussion broadcasts, discussion broadcasts, scripted speeches, unscripted speeches, public conversations and casual conversations. Three spoken metadiscourse dimensions emerged from a factor analysis and were labelled “two-way communication”, “united organization” and “discourse presentation”. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of these dimensions revealed clear register variation of metadiscourse across spoken registers. Dialogues more frequently than monologues and institutional discourse more frequently than mundane discourse adopt metadiscourse markers to emphasize interaction, seek cooperation and present discourse. The study contributes not only to a fuller understanding of metadiscourse in spoken language but also to computer-assisted research on metadiscourse.
摘要：
The existing metadiscourse studies have focused on relatively specific registers. Metadiscourse in written and/or spoken registers in general has received little attention. To explain more fully the nature of metadiscourse, this article undertakes a comprehensive linguistic analysis of metadiscourse markers in written registers based on a reflexive model of metadiscourse. Specifically, this article conducts a multidimensional analysis of register variation of metadiscourse markers across the press, general prose, academic prose and fiction in the Freiburg update of the Lancaster-Oslo/Bergen Corpus of British English (500 texts; 1,000,000 words). Three Metadiscourse Dimensions are extracted and interpreted: writer presence, text presentation and reader guidance. Mean dimension scores are computed as a basis for functional interpretation of register variation. Results show that the appropriate use of metadiscourse markers crucially depends on the register. Metadiscourse markers are more pervasive in more informational and abstract registers (academic, general prose, editorials), especially for the function of text presentation. On the contrary, metadiscourse markers are rare in narrative and concrete registers (fiction, press, reportage), and are mostly used for the purpose of reader guidance.
