Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Clauses as discourse markers

Whole clauses can function as discourse markers. For example, the clause as I

was saying

typically relates one statement to a preceding statement and can be

used either to mark backward reference to an earlier stage in the discourse or to

resume after an interruption. Similarly, the clause talking about X typically marks

the linking of a current or earlier topic to a new one introduced by the speaker:

The = sign indicates an utterance which is cut short

[A has been talking about the internet; B interrupts to give back A’s change

after purchasing drinks with A’s money]

A: Not bad hey. We could do that. 

B: There’s your change. 

A: Oh cheers. Yeah, the scar= as I was saying, er, talking about the internet, the

scariest thing I’ve seen on the internet 

[laughs] is Ted’s page. 

B: Oh I’ve not seen it.

I mean

, you know and you see can sometimes be used within clauses as subject –

verb (

S

– 

V

) structures, or outside of the clause structure, as discourse markers.

When these expressions are inserted parenthetically within a sentence, then their

function as discourse markers is clearer:

● Non discourse marking: