This chapter has two aims. The first is to present an operational definition of the items I analyze as discourse markers: oh, well, and, but, or, so, because, now, then, I mean, y'know (2.1). This definition will allow us to identify markers by some principled set of criteria: we need to know not only how to find the markers that we are analyzing, but why we are proposing their similarity. The second aim is to describe the data that I am using in my analysis (2.2).

Operational definition of markers

I operationally define markers as sequentially dependent elements which bracket units of talk. In (2.1.1), I motivate the decision to define markers in relation to units of talk, rather than a more finely defined unit such as sentence, proposition, speech act, or tone unit. In (2.1.2), I define brackets as devices which are both cataphoric and anaphoric whether they are in initial or terminal position. In (2.1.3), I discuss sequential dependence.

Units of talk

Defining markers in relation to ‘units of talk’ is a deliberately vague way of beginning our definition. To be sure, there have been many efforts to more precisely define units of language, as well as units of speech. In fact, we discussed many such units in Chapter 1: units defined because of their structural relations with other units, their cohesive relations, or their interactional relations.