The Use of Discourse Markers in Oral and Written Discourse by EFL Learners at the University of Guelma

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Discourse Markers (DMs) in the oral and written discourses of third year EFL learners at the University of 8 Mai 1945, Guelma, Algeria. To carry out this research, a descriptive method is followed to analyze the written compositions and the oral presentations of the participants. Data are gathered through collecting 26 essays and observing the participants‟ oral presentations, then, analyzed according to Fraser‟s taxonomy (1999) of discourse markers. The study found that students extensively overuse the elaborative discourse markers over the other markers (contrastive, inferential, and topic change markers) in both oral and written discourses. It is also revealed that students do not fully master the appropriate usage of discourse markers. They extensively misuse them in the pattern of overuse. Moreover, students show a tendency to overuse discourse markers and misuse them in the oral discourse more than in the written one. On the basis of these results, this inquiry proposes some recommendations and suggestions for students to aid them master the appropriate use of discourse markers to realize a cohesive and coherent oral and written discourse.