The classification of discourse markers in Vietnamese language

Abstract

Discourse markers play a crucial role in organizing information and maintaining coherence in discourse; however, their classification system in Vietnamese language has not yet been thoroughly and systematically explored. This paper aims to classify the Vietnamese discourse markers based on three main criteria: pragmatic function, sentence position, and morphological structure. The research data is drawn from literary works to ensure the accuracy, representativeness, and expressive richness of the linguistic units under investigation. The findings reveal that the Vietnamese discourse markers exhibit functional diversity, including information linkage, discourse navigation, and the expression of speaker attitudes, emotions, and stances. In terms of position, discourse markers may appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, with the initial position being the most common, often used for initiating, drawing attention, or shifting topics. Morphologically, they can take the form of single words, phrases, or even dependent clauses, demonstrating considerable flexibility in form and use. The study also highlights the multifunctionality and context-dependent variability of many discourse markers, which complicates the classification and calls for a flexible analytical approach. These insights help to clarify the features of Vietnamese discourse markers and provide a foundation for further research in pragmatics, Vietnamese language teaching, and translation studies.