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Article published In: Language, Interaction and Acquisition
Vol. 8:2 (2017) ► pp.173–203

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Topic-shift discourse markers in L2 Italian

Paths of acquisition by Spanish speakers

 | Complutense University of Madrid
Published online: 2 March 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lia.15045.bor
Abstract
This paper examines how native speakers (NS) and non-native speakers (NNS) of Italian approach topic organisation (topic shift, topic closure, digressions, topic recovery, and summary) in oral interactions. The research focuses on which discourse markers (DMs) are used when speakers try to organise discourse topics, and the differences between NS and NNS when performing such metadiscourse functions. The analysis is based on data from a spoken corpus designed to study conversational strategies in Spanish learners of L2 Italian. It reveals that the acquisition of metadiscourse functions progresses at different rates depending on the function: whereas learners have a good pragmatic competence in using DMs for the introduction of new topics in conversation, they have difficulties with other functions, such as topic closure or summary. In addition, the function of topic recovery after a digression is explicitly marked by NNS by DMs which are not found in native varieties.
Resumé
Cet article explore la façon dont les locuteurs natifs (LN) et les locuteurs non-natifs (LNN) de l’italien gèrent l’organisation des thèmes (topics) dans l’interaction orale (changement de thème, clôture d’un thème, digression, reprise d’un thème et résumé). Notre recherche se concentre sur les marqueurs du discours (MD) qui sont employés lorsque les locuteurs tentent d’organiser les thèmes de leur discours et sur les différences entre les LN et les LNN dans l’accomplissement de ces fonctions métadiscursives. L’analyse est basée sur les données d’un corpus oral construit pour étudier les stratégies conversationnelles des apprenants espagnols de l’italien langue seconde et permet de conclure que l’acquisition des fonctions métadiscursives évolue à des rythmes différents selon le type de fonction: alors que les apprenants ont une bonne compétence pragmatique dans l’emploi des MD pour introduire de nouveaux thèmes dans la conversation, ils éprouvent des difficultés avec d’autres fonctions telles que la clôture ou le résumé d’un thème. Par ailleurs, la fonction de reprise d’un thème suite à une digression est marquée explicitement par les LNN à travers des MD absents chez les LN.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.A functional approach to DMs: A taxonomy of discourse functions
  • 3.Discourse markers in Italian L2 acquisition: Previous research
  • 4.The current study
    • 4.1The corpus
    • 4.2Data treatment
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Metadiscourse functions in learner varieties: Topic management in L2 Italian
      • 5.1.1New topic or change of topic
      • 5.1.2Topic closure
      • 5.1.3Digressions or temporary shifts to a new discourse topic
      • 5.1.4Topic recovery
      • 5.1.5Summarising
  • 6.Discussion
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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