The Sequential Function of the Multifunctional Discourse Structuring Pragmatic Marker "a propósito"

Abstract

This article analyzes the functioning of the multifunctional discourse structuring pragmatic marker a propósito in Portuguese, considering the interface between text linguistics and functional linguistics. The research is based on the concept of sequential cohesion (Fávero, 1991; Koch, 2018; Koch & Elias, 2018; Tavares, 2010) and on the postulates about multifunctional discourse structuring pragmatic markers (Traugott, 2022), in order to describe the multifunctional nature of this linguistic unit. For this purpose, 300 news texts were collected from the Corpus do Português, of which 67 registered occurrences of a propósito functioning as a multifunctional discourse structuring pragmatic marker. The analysis, of both qualitative and quantitative character, found that this marker contributes to textual progression by performing retroactive-propulsive sequencing of information, articulating sentential statements and guiding the interlocutor’s attention. The results also indicate that a propósito displays prototypical properties of multifunctional discourse structuring pragmatic markers, such as short length, detachment through punctuation, processing of semantic cues that aid interpretation, multifunctionality, non-truth-conditionality, lack of syntactic integration, and the presence of (inter)subjectivity, thus confirming its relevance as a textual-organizational and interactional resource. In this way, the study highlights the importance of investigations that articulate different theoretical perspectives in the description of pragmatic elements that remain relatively underexplored.