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The present study aims to investigate the functions of two
connectives jiou and ran-hou, the most frequently used two in
spoken Chinese narrative monologues. Applying Schiffrin
(1987)''s model of discourse, which consists of five components:
the ideational structure, the action structure, the exchange
structure, the information state and the participation
framework, we find jiou and ran-hou both serve functions in the
ideational structure, the action structure and the information
state. Moreover, both can be regarded as Schiffrin''s
"discourse marker." Jiou is a marker of focus and its primary
function of connection is in the information state, with
secondary function in the ideational structure and the action
structure. Though it may work in different plane of talk, its
core function remains the same, i.e., the marking of the unit
in focus. With such a function, jiou helps to establish the
conversation relevance by indicating to the hearer the
importance of the upcoming unit. Ran-hou is a marker of
succession and it functions primarily in the ideational
structure. Such a function of connection is then applied to
the action structure and the information state as well.
Therefore, it also serves to establish the conversation
relevance by informing the hearer of a coming new passage. As
the analysis shows that, first, the two connectives in question
work not merely in one aspect of discourse, but in others as
well. Moreover, different aspect though they may be applied
to, their core meanings remain the same. It is therefore
suggested that studies about connectives should take various
discourse components into consideration.
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