Discourse analysis

THE MICRO- LEVEL and THE MACRO-LEVEL
The issue of coherence is usually approached from two perspectives: the micro- level and the macro-level. At the micro-level, readers have certain expectations of how the proposition (ie the meaning) of a sentence is likely to be developed in the sentence or sentences that follow it. When these expectations are met, the immediate text will seem coherent. At the macro-level, coherence is enhanced if a) the reader can easily discern what the text is about, b) the text is organized in a way that answers the reader's likely questions and c) the text is organized in a way that is familiar to the reader.
The above mentioned example is the micro- level., sentence-by-sentence

Home task: Find an extract from authentic material for coherence to the class and explain the connections between sentences. Why do you think first sentence is connected with the second sentence or reverse and others connections.

Lesson 11 Discourse Markers

Do discourse markers change the meaning of a sentence?

Discourse markers generally do not change the intrinsic meaning of a sentence, although sometimes they are important for clarity and logical linking of ideas.
For example, you could say:
“John has broken his leg. He attends his team’s football matches every week.”
These sentences are grammatically and factually correct, but they don’t really convey the full message. Instead you could say:
“Despite the fact that John has broken his leg, he still attends his team’s football matches every week.”
By adding these discourse markers, you are emphasizing John’s dedication to supporting his team despite his misfortune – without having to directly state this.
This is just one example of how discourse markers and linking phrases can add depth and clarity to your English.

Formal vs informal discourse markers in speaking vs writing

The types of discourse marker used in speaking are often quite different to those used in writing. Spoken discourse markers tend to be less formal and can include the following:

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