DELTA - Terminology - Discourse

An occurrence of two consecutive turns where the first turn determines the second 

e.g. question/answer        problem/advice

• adjacency pair (d)

• anaphoric reference (d)

• back-channelling/ back-channeling (d)

• cataphoric reference (d)

The use of a pronoun or determiner to refer back to something stated earlier in a text >> increases cohesion

e.g. ‘Where’s my sweater?’ ‘I put it in your wardrobe’

• adjacency pair (d)

• anaphoric reference (d)

• back-channelling/ back-channeling (d)

• cataphoric reference (d)

Verbal signals are given by the listener to express attention, interest

e.g. yeah, sure, of course

• adjacency pair (d)

• anaphoric reference (d)

• back-channelling/ back-channeling (d)

• cataphoric reference (d)

The use of a pronoun or determiner to refer forward to something stated later in a text >> increases cohesion

e.g. That’s him! My sister’s husband.

• adjacency pair (d)

• anaphoric reference (d)

• back-channelling/ back-channeling (d)

• cataphoric reference (d)

The use of grammatical and lexical means to achieve connected text, either written or spoken.

e.g. substitution, ellipsis

• cohesion (d)

• cohesive device (d)

• discourse marker (d)

• ellipsis (d)

A device used in discourse to connect ideas of different parts of a text. It can include reference or linking words, substitution, and ellipsis.

e.g. I loved that dog. It was my pet. 

• cohesion (d)

• cohesive device (d)

• discourse marker (d)

• ellipsis (d)

A spoken language item that functions to orient the listener to what will follow:

• Initiate a turn (right….. now…..)

• Indicate some change of direction (well…)

• Appeal to the listener (you know?)

• cohesion (d)

• cohesive device (d)

• discourse marker (d)

• ellipsis (d)

Omitting a word or phrase because:

• It is unnecessary

• Can be inferred from context

e.g. ‘Is the supermarket open?’ ‘No, but the corner shop is ().’

• cohesion (d)

• cohesive device (d)

• discourse marker (d)

• ellipsis (d)

Refers to something outside of the immediate linguistic context. Often the reader/listener will have shared knowledge of the referent.

e.g. I’m going to meet him there tomorrow. (e.g. on a random note you find with no further information provided - no shared knowledge)

e.g. ‘I’m going to the beach tomorrow. Do you want to come?’ (both parties know which beach is being referred to, likely because there is only 1 close by)

• exophoric reference (d)

• filler (d)

• hedging (d)

• illocutionary force (d)

Language used by speakers to avoid frequent / long pauses, to hold the floor, or to gain thinking time.

e.g. um, well, you know

• exophoric reference (d)

• filler (d)

• hedging (d)

• illocutionary force (d)