Using Discourse Markers in American English
2024-09-20
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1Imagine you are watching an old American movie -- the crime film "Dirty Harry."
2You have heard that one part of the film is very famous in American culture.
3You watch the scene, which sounds like this:
4You go to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?
5Well, do you, punk?
6A sudden, strange thought comes to your mind. What is the purpose of the word well?
7You have heard different English speakers use the word in different ways, but you are not sure what it means.
8In our Everyday Grammar report, we will explore the common adverb well.
9We will show you how Americans use it while they are speaking.
10Do not fear. Unlike an unexpected meeting with Dirty Harry, this report will be painless!
11Adverbs are one of the most difficult subjects in English grammar.
12They are difficult because they represent a large group of words that have different uses.
13In general, the definition of an adverb is this: a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence.
14Adverbs are often used to show time, place or a way of doing things.
15They can also show a degree or measurement of something.
16Consider the sentence, "I really like English grammar."
17The adverb really changes the meaning of the verb like.
18The adverb really increases the force of the statement.
19There are also sentence adverbs.
20They limit or describe the meaning of an entire statement.
21Sentence adverbs also provide more information about the sentence.
22These are sometimes called conjunctive adverbs or discourse markers.
23Regardless of the name you choose to call them, the purpose is the same:
24They connect sentences in the same way coordinating conjunctions do, but they provide a different kind of information.
25Here is an example.
26Let's consider the statement:
27I love English; however, I do not love English grammar!
28The word however is a conjunctive adverb that shows a contrast or comparison is coming.
29You can read more about words like these in an earlier Everyday Grammar story called "Contrast and Concession."
30Today we are considering common conjunctive adverbs, or discourse markers, and how they are used in everyday-speech.
31Let's go back to the word well. As you heard at the beginning of today's program, well can have a few different uses.
32The first use is to show a contrast or even a disagreement.
33Consider this line from the ending of the American film "Some Like It Hot."
34"You don't understand, Osgood! I'm a man."
35"Well, nobody's perfect..."
36Here, the speaker uses well to show that a contrast is coming.
37The first speaker, the actor Jack Lemmon, expects the second person to become angry when he states he is not a woman, but a man.
38But Osgood reacts in an unexpected, or contrasting way.
39He does not act surprised at all!
40The second use of well is to show uncertainty, especially in answers.
41Consider this exchange between two friends.
42Do you mind if I borrow five dollars?
43Well, I'm not sure if I have any money with me...
44In this example, the second speaker is a little slow in responding.
45The word well shows that she is not sure if she has the money.
46Or, maybe she knows she has five dollars, but she does not want to say so.
47Whatever the case, the point is that well serves as a word that shows movement between the question and the answer.
48This transition shows that there is some uncertainty.
49The third common use of well is to show a transition to the end of a conversation.
50Consider this example. Imagine you are in a business meeting, and your boss makes the following statement:
51Well, this meeting has been very productive.
52In this case, the word well is showing a transition to the end of the meeting.
53Your boss is showing that he wants the meeting to end soon.
54In American culture, this is considered a careful, indirect way to end a conversation.
55However, if a speaker directs your attention to the word "well," then the meaning changes.
56The statement can take on an angry, tense sound.
57Consider the difference between these two statements:
58Well, this meeting has been very productive.
59WELL, this meeting has been very productive.
60The first statement is a respectful way to end a meeting.
61The second statement is a tense, perhaps angry way to bring a meeting to an end.
62If you heard the second statement in a business meeting, then you should know that something is wrong!
63Think back to the movie scene you heard at the beginning of this report.
64Now that you have learned about the word well, consider what Dirty Harry might have meant.
65Like any good crime film, we end with a few questions.
66What do you think Dirty Harry meant when he said well?
67Does he use it in a way that has the same meaning as the uses of well we have discussed, or does he use it in a different way?
68Leave your answers in the Comments Section on our website, learningenglish.voanews.com, or on our Facebook page.
69Well, I guess that is all for today's program. Until next time!
70I'm John Russell.
71And I'm Alice Bryant.
1Imagine you are watching an old American movie -- the crime film "Dirty Harry." 2You have heard that one part of the film is very famous in American culture. 3You watch the scene, which sounds like this: 4You go to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? 5Well, do you, punk? 6A sudden, strange thought comes to your mind. What is the purpose of the word well? 7You have heard different English speakers use the word in different ways, but you are not sure what it means. 8In our Everyday Grammar report, we will explore the common adverb well. We will show you how Americans use it while they are speaking. 9Do not fear. Unlike an unexpected meeting with Dirty Harry, this report will be painless! 10What are adverbs? 11Adverbs are one of the most difficult subjects in English grammar. They are difficult because they represent a large group of words that have different uses. 12In general, the definition of an adverb is this: a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence. 13Adverbs are often used to show time, place or a way of doing things. They can also show a degree or measurement of something. 14Consider the sentence, "I really like English grammar." The adverb really changes the meaning of the verb like. The adverb really increases the force of the statement. 15There are also sentence adverbs. They limit or describe the meaning of an entire statement. 16Sentence adverbs also provide more information about the sentence. These are sometimes called conjunctive adverbs or discourse markers. Regardless of the name you choose to call them, the purpose is the same: They connect sentences in the same way coordinating conjunctions do, but they provide a different kind of information. 17Here is an example. 18Let's consider the statement: 19I love English; however, I do not love English grammar! 20The word however is a conjunctive adverb that shows a contrast or comparison is coming. 21You can read more about words like these in an earlier Everyday Grammar story called "Contrast and Concession." 22The case of "well" 23Today we are considering common conjunctive adverbs, or discourse markers, and how they are used in everyday-speech. 24Let's go back to the word well. As you heard at the beginning of today's program, well can have a few different uses. 251. Well indicates contrast or disagreement 26The first use is to show a contrast or even a disagreement. Consider this line from the ending of the American film "Some Like It Hot." 27"You don't understand, Osgood! I'm a man." 28"Well, nobody's perfect..." 29Here, the speaker uses well to show that a contrast is coming. 30The first speaker, the actor Jack Lemmon, expects the second person to become angry when he states he is not a woman, but a man. 31But Osgood reacts in an unexpected, or contrasting way. He does not act surprised at all! 322. Wells shows uncertainty 33The second use of well is to show uncertainty, especially in answers. 34Consider this exchange between two friends. 35Do you mind if I borrow five dollars? 36Well, I'm not sure if I have any money with me... 37In this example, the second speaker is a little slow in responding. The word well shows that she is not sure if she has the money. Or, maybe she knows she has five dollars, but she does not want to say so. 38Whatever the case, the point is that well serves as a word that shows movement between the question and the answer. This transition shows that there is some uncertainty. 393. To show a conversation is ending 40The third common use of well is to show a transition to the end of a conversation. 41Consider this example. Imagine you are in a business meeting, and your boss makes the following statement: 42Well, this meeting has been very productive. 43In this case, the word well is showing a transition to the end of the meeting. Your boss is showing that he wants the meeting to end soon. 44In American culture, this is considered a careful, indirect way to end a conversation. 45However, if a speaker directs your attention to the word "well," then the meaning changes. The statement can take on an angry, tense sound. 46Consider the difference between these two statements: 47Well, this meeting has been very productive. 48WELL, this meeting has been very productive. 49The first statement is a respectful way to end a meeting. 50The second statement is a tense, perhaps angry way to bring a meeting to an end. If you heard the second statement in a business meeting, then you should know that something is wrong! 51Do you understand the uses of well? 52Think back to the movie scene you heard at the beginning of this report. Now that you have learned about the word well, consider what Dirty Harry might have meant. 53Like any good crime film, we end with a few questions. 54What do you think Dirty Harry meant when he said well? Does he use it in a way that has the same meaning as the uses of well we have discussed, or does he use it in a different way? 55Leave your answers in the Comments Section on our website, learningenglish.voanews.com, or on our Facebook page. 56Well, I guess that is all for today's program. Until next time! 57I'm John Russell. 58And I'm Alice Bryant. 59John Russell wrote this lesson for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 60_____________________________________________ 61Words in This Story 62scene - n. a part of a play, movie, story, etc., in which a particular action or activity occurs 63adverb - n. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree 64conjunctive adverb - n. a conjunction that connects two sentences with an adverbial emphasis 65coordinating conjunction - n. a conjunction (such as and, or, or but) that joins together words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance 66contrast - n. to be different especially in a way that is very obvious 67uncertainty - n. the quality or state of being uncertain 68degree - n. a step in a process or order of classification 69regardless - adv. without being stopped by difficulty or trouble 70transition - n. passage from one subject or place to another