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Volume 31, Issue 2
  • ISSN 0929-0907
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9943
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Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the pragmatic marker “I think” and its translation into Turkish, specifically focusing on its use in TED Talks. Using a corpus-based approach, the research investigates the various functions and Turkish equivalents of “I think”, revealing significant insights into its role as a commenting speech action. Grounded in speech act theory, particularly expositive illocutionary acts, the study emphasizes the illocutionary pluralism of “I think” in managing discourse, expressing speaker attitudes, and engaging interlocutors. The findings highlight the high frequency and critical role of “I think” in spoken English, its function as a commenting speech action in maintaining discourse coherence, and the notable translation choices in Turkish, such as ‘in my opinion’ and ‘I suppose/I assume’. This study contributes to pragmatics by enhancing our understanding of the illocutionary pluralism of “I think” vis-à-vis its translation strategies.

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2025-01-17
2026-06-15

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/content/journals/10.1075/pc.24006.cel
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The functions of “I think” in TED Talks and their Turkish translations
Pragmatics & Cognition 31, 391 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1075/pc.24006.cel
/content/journals/10.1075/pc.24006.cel
/content/journals/10.1075/pc.24006.cel
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): commenting speech action; expositive illocutionary acts; illocutionary pluralism; pragmatic markers

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