Conjunction in sentence and discourse: sentence-initial and and discourse structure [An article from: Journal of Pragmatics]

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Description:
The paper deals with the usage of sentence-initial and in Modern as compared to Early Modern English written language. It is argued (1) that the function of discourse marker which and has in interactive discourse applies to connecting written sentences as well, and (2) that the reluctance with which it is used today in most written registers has not evolved entirely by chance. Evidence comes from Early Modern English texts and their changing preferences in terms of discourse structure, and from Modern English written discourse, where the usage of sentence-initial conjunction varies largely across genres. Building on analyses of texts from both periods it is shown that the evolution of academic genres towards becoming less narrative begins in the Early Modern English time, with changing patterns of use of sentence-initial and being one result of this process. This foreshadowed, if not initiated, the more general banishment of initial And from larger parts of the written language. Findings also have relevance for the relation between discourse coherence and discourse type: While and potentially supports speaker continuity both at an ideational and at a pragmatic level, a written discourse type defined by a pragmatic function, such as the argumentative or expository type prevailing in modern science, apparently requires connections to be more explicit and semantic in kind.