Coherence and Cohesion in English Discourse

6 Conclusions
The analysis has proved that owing to the important pragmatic functions the 
marker 
I mean
can perform in spoken discourse, it can be stated that it enhances 
the
 
smooth 
flow of 
spoken interaction and negotiation of meaning between 
discourse participants, thus facilitating the hearer’s adequate interpretation 
of the message to be communicated and contributing to the establishment of 
discourse coherence. Speakers use markers such as 
I mean
when planning and 
organizing discourse in order to indicate to the current hearer(s) that they should 
pay attention to further explanations or reformulations regarding something that 
has not been expressed sufficiently and clearly (i.e. 
I mean
used for explanations 
and reformulations respectively) or simply to gain more time while searching 
for the right way of expression (i.e. 
I mean
used as a delay device). Since all of 
us use spoken language to a much greater extent than we use written language 
(Svartvik 2006), it is very important that we know how spoken interaction is 
organized
structurally and strategically, which necessarily entails a
knowledge 
of the appropriate use of markers such as 
I mean
.