Marcadores discursivos y español coloquial en las redes sociales

This paper presents the results of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the incidence and the functions of Spanish discourse markers in Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The aims of this study are identifying the main uses of these particles in social network sites and outlining the possible connection between the use of these markers and the informal oral register of Spanish in tweets and commemnts in these platforms. The analysis of a corpus of messages confirms that the most frequently used are the counterargumentative connectors like pero, the additives además, encima e incluso, the commentator pues, and the interactional claro, hombre, bueno, vamos y ¿eh? Such markers are mainly employed in order to provide valid arguments and negotiate interaction within spaces where conflict predominates.