A framework for the description of Latin discourse markers

What is it about?

The article sketches the outlines of a theoretical framework for the analysis and description of discourse markers, based on an evaluation of earlier attempts in this direction, and on the results of an empirical study of a number of Latin connective particles. Central to this framework is the recent insight that connective particles somehow play a role in signalling or maintaining the discourse coherence, and, even more important, that discourse coherence obtains on various ‘levels’. In the model proposed, three levels of discourse are distinguished, which are called the representational, the presentational and the interactional level of discourse. It is argued that the functions of discourse markers should be defined in terms of these levels of discourse, and that, in the analyses of individual markers, one should differentiate between discourse function, basic meaning, actual use and side-effects. Application of the framework to a number of so-called coordinating conjunctions in Latin enables us to give more adequate and unified accounts of these particles than those which are usually found in Latin grammars. It also helps to explain seemingly deviant uses and to draw clearer distinctions between near-synonyms.

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