Catherine E. Travis, Discourse markers in Colombian Spanish: A study in polysemy

Abstract

Catherine E. Travis, Discourse markers in Colombian Spanish: A study in polysemy. Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 2005. Pp. xiii, 327.

This book sets an excellent example of how a semantic focus may enrich a theme usually identified as belonging to pragmatics. Discourse markers are usually considered to be discourse support resources (fillers). They are known in Spanish as muletillas ‘crutches’, with a negative evaluation. Because they are independent from the syntactic core structure, their presence seems arbitrary and optional. It is also generally believed that they do not contribute to the referential content of the clauses they are used in. Their use, however, is far from random; it is governed by precise conversational conditions and discourse criteria. Furthermore, they play an important pragmatic role in the verbal interaction associated with negotiation between speaker and hearer. This book with its detailed study is an excellent contribution to the field.