Functional-Communicative Study of Adversative and Causal Discourse Markers

Abstract

The present article highlights the main problems related to the functional-communicative study and causal discourse markers. Both markers are widely applied in English textual and communicative discourses. The functional-communicative nature of the markers has been examined with reference to dialogues and monologues in fiction. The latter make it possible to clarify the importance of the adversative and causal discourse markers in the organization of the overall discourse. A number of features typical of both adversative and causal markers are revealed due to the context. In case of heavy dependence on the context, the markers do not perform a wide communicative function, for example in monologues, whereas in dialogues the role of the communicative function is enhanced.