ABSTRACT

Since 1970s, linguists at home and abroad are bound up in features, classifications and functions of English pragmatic markers (hereafter EPM) from grammatical and structural perspectives. However, they ignore pragmatic functions and validity of EPM in oral English, which violates the reality that oral English study has an upgrading status at present, and therefore the study on functional pragmatic markers in oral English should be put in the first place in researches of EPM. After all, the employment of EPM is a vital reflection of English language proficiency. The paper mainly focuses on the state of use of EPM, functions of pragmatic markers in communication and how to accurately use EPM for improving communicative validity. Eventually, factors that cause the problems in the employment of EPM by Chinese English learners and solving strategies will be listed one by one.

Keywords: EPM; Context; Oral English Learning

CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1.Introduction-1

1.1 The Introduction of EPM-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-2

2. Past Literature-2

2.1 At Abroad-2

2.2 At Home-3

3. Theoretical Framework-5

3.1 Relevance-Theoretical Approach-5

3.2 Adaptation Theory-6

4. Data Collection-9

4.1 Ways to Collect Data-9

4.2 Approaches to Data Analysis-9

5. Analysis of EPM from the Perspective of Oral English Learning-10

5.1 EPM in Use-10

5.1.1 By Undergraduates-10

5.1.2 By a Special Group-11

5.2 Functions of EPM in Communication-12

5.2.1 By High-Leveled Speakers-13

5.2.2 By Low-Leveled Speakers-13

5.3 Accurate Use of EPM in Improving Communicative Validity-14

5.3.1 Illustration from Native Speakers' Perspective-14

        5.3.2 Improvement for Chinese Learners' Proficiency-15

6. Causes of the Insufficient Use of EPM-15

6.1 Across Languages-16

6.2 Across Cultures-16

7.Suggestions for Chinese English Learners-17

8. Limitations-18

References-20

Acknowledgements-22