Which feature of conversation helps manage turn-taking and shows stance, without necessarily adding propositional content?

Which feature of conversation helps manage turn-taking and shows stance, without necessarily adding propositional content?

• A. Discourse Markers
• B. Fillers
• C. Idiolect
• D. Hesitation

Answer: (A)

Discourse markers are words or short phrases like well, you know, I mean, or anyway that speakers use to shape the flow of conversation. They help manage when it’s appropriate to take a turn, signal a shift in topic, or indicate stance or attitude toward what’s being said, all without adding new factual content. Fillers like um or uh mainly buy thinking time or hold the floor, but they don’t shape turn-taking structure or convey stance as clearly. Idiolect refers to an individual’s unique language pattern, not a general conversation tool, and hesitation is simply a pause that may reflect uncertainty rather than a deliberate device for guiding interaction.

Discourse markers are words or short phrases like well, you know, I mean, or anyway that speakers use to shape the flow of conversation. They help manage when it’s appropriate to take a turn, signal a shift in topic, or indicate stance or attitude toward what’s being said, all without adding new factual content. Fillers like um or uh mainly buy thinking time or hold the floor, but they don’t shape turn-taking structure or convey stance as clearly. Idiolect refers to an individual’s unique language pattern, not a general conversation tool, and hesitation is simply a pause that may reflect uncertainty rather than a deliberate device for guiding interaction.