Bilingual Discourse Markers in Indigenous Languages

This review of research considers the occurrence and function of Spanish discourse markers and other particles in indigenous speech. I discuss important research that has examined these phenomena and refer to studies of bilingual discourse markers in other non-indigenous language contact situations to address unresolved issues concerning the form and function of these particles in indigenous languages. Based on an analysis of this work, I conclude that the status of such markers in indigenous languages depends on the relationship between language dominance and the frequency and type of borrowing. I also assess that only time will determine whether or not the use of borrowed elements implies an eventual replacement of native language discourse markers or a coexistence of two systems.