I segnali funzionali: portatori di identità ed espressività linguistica
Functional Signals: Bearers of Linguistic Identity and Expressiveness

Summary/Abstract: In the interaction between a native Italian speaker and a learner of Italian, the reasoned and unspontaneous use of functional signals or the non-use of them might betray the latter. Discourse markers are specific to the spoken language, but they are not negligible in the written language either, as they act as connectors and textual organisers, as cognitive-relational facilitators and enhancers. Although they are mostly superfluous from an informational point of view, they are almost indispensable to guarantee an appropriate linguistic colouring. They are the ones that manage to encapsulate much of the genuineness, spontaneity, and specificity of a language. For a learner of Italian, they are difficult to master and use with fluency – certainly not the common ones (beh, allora, dai, cioè...), but not for that reason insignificant. One needs constant and careful exposure to a lot of authentic input in order to be able to assimilate them correctly and durably. In order to illustrate the expressiveness of functional signals, we will briefly analyse their contribution to expressiveness within a passage from Alessandro D’Avenia’s novel White Like Milk, Red Like Blood). Moreover, we will reflect on their translation into four other foreign languages. In closing, we will point out the need for LS Italian textbooks that also cover the teaching of functional signals.

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