A Learner corpus-based study on the use of spoken discourse markers by Thai EFL learners

Abstract

This research investigated and compared the use of English spoken discourse markers by Thai EFL learners and by native English speakers. Six English spoken discourse markers, namely like, so, well, you know, I think and I mean, are compared in two aspects: frequency and pragmatic function. A total of 60 learners were involved in the research: 30 Thai B1-level learners and 30 Thai C1-level EFL learners according to the CEFR standard. Spoken data in the genre of English daily conversation was collected and transcribed into written form to build a learner corpus for the analysis. The research examined the significant difference in the use of English spoken discourse markers between Thai EFL learners and native English speakers. Meanwhile, pragmatic functions of each spoken discourse marker used by Thai EFL learners were identified and compared to native English speakers.

The data and its analysis indicated a significant difference in the use of four spoken discourse markers – so, well, you know and I think – resulting in underuse by Thai EFL learners. Moreover, Thai EFL learners proved to use each spoken discourse marker differently in comparison to native English speakers. On the whole, interpersonal functions were a factor less frequently than textual functions, indicating a larger deficiency in performing interpersonal functions by Thai EFL learners. These results lead to the conclusion that Thai EFL learners lack pragmatic competence in oral communication in terms of use discrepancy regarding spoken discourse markers compared to native English speakers.