Focus Groups for Investigating Discourse Markers: A Case Study of Czech and Slovak Learners of L2 Italian
Focus Groups for Investigating Discourse Markers: A Case Study of Czech and Slovak Learners of L2 Italian

Summary/Abstract: What would our conversations be like without all those little elements (well, allora, jo) that make speech fluent, effective and, above all, natural? These are discourse markers (DMs), widely studied in both native (L1) and second language (L2) contexts. In the latter, various standard methods of collecting spoken L2 data have been employed, including role-plays, interviews, narratives and others. However, focus groups (FGs)—structured discussion on a specific topic—have not yet been used for this purpose. This study investigates the potential of FGs as a natural method for studying DMs in the interlanguage of Slavic learners of L2 Italian. By comparing data obtained from traditional methods (role-play, personal narratives, etc.) with that collected from FGs, the research shows how interlanguages exhibit DMs with various functions. This comparison highlights not only different uses of DMs but also the value of FGs in providing more authentic insights into their use in naturalistic settings.

• Details
• Contents