Functions of the discourse marker So in the LINDSEI-AR corpus

Abstract

This article aims to explore the functions of the discourse marker so in the LINDSEI-AR corpus. This corpus forms the first part of LINDSEI, representing English used by Arab learners. The participants in this study were advanced Saudi learners of English in their third and fourth years of undergraduate study. There are five discourse marker functions of so in the learner corpus, occurring with different frequencies. The most frequent use is so indicating result. The second most frequent function is so introducing a new sequence. Then, comes so marking the main idea unit. The fourth most frequent function is so marking transition. The least frequent function is so introducing a turn. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that the analyses illustrate that the existing functions of the so found in the literature can be confirmed in the LINDSEI-AR and that Saudi English language learners, both male and female, could use the functions of so appropriately. With respect to gender, the results show no statistical significance between Saudi males and females.