The Textual Functions of Discourse Marker yalla in Jordanian Arabic

The present study aims at proving that yalla ‘hurry’ is a discourse marker in Jordanian Spoken Arabic (henceforth, JSA). It also investigates the textual functions of different contexts. data consisted 104 scenarios, including JSA yalla. researchers relied mainly on observation to collect needed for study. A panel four raters, who were professors linguistics, tested validity data. Moreover, group 50 students studying English Al Balqa Applied University based acceptability judgment. findings showed as it holds common features DMs, such connectivity, optionality, non-truth-conditionality, weak clause association, orality, initiality, multi-categoriality, and multifunctionality. In addition, revealed DM serves five main functions, namely: indicating end conversation, signaling topic shift, initiating topic, taking turn, yielding turn.