A Pragmatic Analysis on the Discourse Marker Well In Modern Family Abstract Taking the discourse marker Well as the research subject, this thesis investigates its pragmatic function in American sitcom Modern Family (Season 6) under the theory of relevance theory. There are a total of 348 uses of well in the sitcom, 333 of which are used as discourse markers. Through the analysis, six pragmatic functions of the discourse marker Well are discussed. It can be used as a contemplation marker, an insufficiency marker, a correcting marker, a mitigation of face-threatening, a turn-taking marker or a coherence-achieving marker. In addition, Well can act different pragmatic functions in various situations. Well usually can be applied in four typical contexts where speakers try to offer a proposal, strike a compromise, refute an argument or express an emotion. Thus, having a great command of the discourse marker Well can help English learners understand the meaning of Well better and improve the use of it. The practice of using the discourse marker Well can also enhance English learners’ oral ability to interact with English speakers as well as speak more idiomatically to carry out a successful communication.  60579

Key words: discourse marker; well; relevance theory; pragmatic function; contexts

摩登家庭中的话语标记语Well语用功能分析

摘要以话语标记语well为研究主题，关联理论为研究理论，本论文主要研究了美国情景喜剧摩登家庭第六季人物对话中出现的Well的语用功能。在本季中，well共出现了348次，其中333次是作为话语标记语使用的。通过数据的收集整理与分析，总结出了well的6种语用功能：可作为延缓标记语，信息短缺标记语，信息修正标记语，面子威胁缓和语，话轮转换标记语以及连贯标记语。本文也发现，在不同的语境中，well的语用功能也不同。Well经常出现在以下四种语境中：提出建议，表达妥协，反驳观点和表达情感。因此，掌握话语标记语well可以帮助英语学习者更好的理解说话者的真正意图，在理解基础上使用well，可以提高英语学习者的口语水平使其更接近英语母语者的说话水平，从而能够更好进行对话交流。

毕业论文关键词：话语标记语，well，关联理论，语用功能，语境 

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Objectives of the Study 1

1.3 Organization of the Study 2

2. Literature Review 3

2.1 Definition of Discourse Markers 3

2.2 Study of Relevance Theory 5

2.3 Study of Discourse Markers under the Relevance Theory 6

2.4 Study of the Pragmatic Functions of the Discourse Maker Well 6

2.5 Study of Modern Family 7

3. Methodology 8

4. Data Analysis 8

4.1 Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Markers in Modern Family 8

4.2 Different functions of Discourse Markers 9

4.2.1 Well as a Contemplation Marker 9

4.1.2 Well as an Insufficiency Marker 11

4.1.3 Well as a Correcting Marker 12

4.1.4 Well as a Mitigation of Face-threatening 13

4.1.5 Well as a Turn-taking Marker 14