Abstract

This article aims to explore the functions of the discourse marker so in the LINDSEI-AR corpus. This corpus forms the first part of LINDSEI, representing English used by Arab learners. The participants in this study were advanced Saudi learners of English in their third and fourth years of undergraduate study. There are five discourse marker functions of so in the learner corpus, occurring with different frequencies. The most frequent use is so indicating result. The second most frequent function is so introducing a new sequence. Then, comes so marking the main idea unit. The fourth most frequent function is so marking transition. The least frequent function is so introducing a turn. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that the analyses illustrate that the existing functions of the so found in the literature can be confirmed in the LINDSEI-AR and that Saudi English language learners, both male and female, could use the functions of so appropriately. With respect to gender, the results show no statistical significance between Saudi males and females.

摘要

本文旨在探讨话语标记的功能，所以在LINDSEI-AR语料库。该语料库构成LINDSEI的第一部分，代表阿拉伯学习者使用的英语。这项研究的参与者是沙特阿拉伯大学本科三年级和四年级的高级英语学习者。学习者语料库中的so共有五种话语标记功能，它们以不同的频率发生。最频繁的使用是这样指示结果。第二个最常见的功能，所以引入一个新的序列。然后，如此标记主要思想单元。第四最频繁的功能，所以标记过渡。最不常见的功能是如此引入转弯。基于这些结果，可以得出这样的结论的分析说明的现有功能，所以在文献中找到可以在LINDSEI-AR和沙特的英语学习者，男性和女性进行确认，可以使用的功能如此适当。关于性别，结果显示沙特阿拉伯和女性之间没有统计学意义。