The Meaning of Discourse Markers in Classroom Interaction

Abstract

There hasn't been much research carried out to date relating the spoken classroom discourse and the correlation between meaning and interaction. In this study, I will explore the relationship between meaning and interaction as enacted by the Greek particles lipon ("so") and endaksi ("ok"), and, in particular, I will investigate their use within classroom interaction using the tools of the conversation analytic tradition. This study investigates these lexical particles within classroom interaction in pre-primary and primary classes in schools of Nicosia. For the investigation I recorded and transcribed 20 hours of classroom interaction. The lexical items under study fit into the category of what has traditionally been framed as discourse markers. In this study I centre my attention on the classroom genre and analyze the communicative purpose of the aforementioned discourse markers in the speech of the teachers.