Abstract:The present study aims to investigate the pragmatic meaning and functions of halhen (now) as a discourse marker in informal Arabic. To do so, the researcher implemented Aijmer’s (2002) classification of the discourse functions of now. The results show that halhen has textual and affective functions. Regarding its textual functions, halhen could be a topic changer for telling new information or returning to an earlier point; a frame between discourse units; a turn-taking signal; an item separating sub-topics; a… Show more
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