The Social Meanings of Discourse Markers in Valspeak

The study aims to examine the functions of discourse markers which are commonly found in Valspeak from a sociolinguistic perspective with special reference to the societal norms and interactional principles of the adolescent group. The examination of data suggests that most of the discourse markers carry interpersonal functions rather than textual functions.; they are used subjectively to express a response or a reaction to the preceding discourse or attitude towards the preceding or following discourse, expressing agreement/disagreement, for instance, and interpersonally to effect cooperation, sharing, or intimacy between speaker and hearer. The typical functions found in the use of some discourse markers in Valspeak are hedges or boosters on illocutionary force; like, for instance, is also used as a hedge. The loose talk and non-committal stance encoded by the frequent use of like reflect the "one-size-fits-all" mentality of the adolescent. The heavy use of like in Valspeak demonstrates that the adolescent uses hedging to avoid sounding too assertive. Some markers such as totally function as boosters; they are uttered with heavy emphasis on exaggerating/highlighting the speaker's affective stance. The use of totally in its dependent and independent use suggests that teenagers have the tendency to exaggerate when they agree with their conversational partner(s), which is manifested in the repetition of totally across the turn. The common usages of such markers in Valspeak seem to be the expression of social identity and ingroupness, and reflect adolescents' increasing need to express autonomy from the parent group and to express their drive toward peer group conformity. The heavy and repetitive use of such markers across turns serves to enhance inter-speaker solidarity. At the same time, its heavy use reflects their feelings of inadequacy in general (Andersen 2000). As such, the use of Valspeak suggests another way of allaying adolescent insecurities. By deepening our understanding of how American speakers of Valspeak organize their talk, this study will help us better understand the relationship between the register and structure of talk. The finding will illuminate the macro social phenomenon of Valspeak from the examination of the micro details in face-to-face interactions.