A turn in the conversationSourced
Not region-specific · English meaning
I mean can help organize speech, not just define meaning
Expressions such as I mean and well can manage the flow of English conversation. These discourse markers may signal reformulation, topic shifts or planning. Once treated as empty fillers, they are also studied for the work they do between and around statements.
Small phrases can help steer a larger conversation.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Discourse marker · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-05