Persistent argumentative discourse markers: The case of Hebrew rectification-marker be-ʕecem (‘actually’)

This paper argues that argumentative discourse markers pragmaticalize and become 'polysemous' via a single core function. The focus of the paper is on discourse markers of rectification, where an accessible assumption or claim is replaced with another, rectifying claim (in the form of an explanation, clarification, definition, justification etc.). Specifically, I discuss Hebrew be-ʕecem, originally a prepositional phrase meaning ‘in a bone’ and its evolution into a polysemous discourse marker whose meaning is versatile: ‘on second thought'/‘actually’/‘essentially’/‘basically’. I claim that it is its persistent core function of argumentative rectification not only serves as the motivation behind its linguistic evolution, but also serves as the link connecting all of its meanings/uses. Pragmaticalization is therefore given a new light, highlighting the discourse marker's core function which governs the course of its history.