On discourse markers: Evidence from modern Greek

The aim of this paper is to describe and account for the function of four Modem creek expressions, namely delta ila deltai ('that is to say'), m ala loja ('in other words'), theta elo na po ('I wish to say'), i malon ('or rather'). After a brief theoretical introduction to the study of the category of Discourse Markers, two pragmatic approaches (Schiffrin's, 1987 and Blakemore's, 1987) are evaluated through their application to the analysis of the four expressions. An alternative approach is then developed which elaborates mainly on Schiffrin's (1987) model and employs the tests for substitutability proposed by Knott and Sanders (1998), thus describing the relevant facts accurately. It is further argued that only if the dynamics of grammaticalization is taken into account, is it possible to arrive at a principled explanation of the differences and similarities between the four markers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.