Fuzzy boundaries in the different functions and translations of the discourse marker and (annotated in TED Talks)

Abstract

The present research focuses on the multiple functions performed by the discourse marker and in annotated spoken-like texts of TED Talks and its Lithuanian and Hungarian counterparts. The annotation of TED Talks in both Lithuanian and Hungarian has started only recently, which results in the limitation regarding the quantity of annotated texts. The research findings show that and performs multiple functions, including the function of addition, discourse management and structuring discourse and there are often fuzzy boundaries on the domain level. The data on the Hungarian target language equivalents of and reveals that in addition to fuzziness on the domain level we can also observe fuzziness on the category level, as the boundaries between coordinator and discourse functions of and are not invariably clearcut.