本文是一篇英语语言学论文，本文主要研究Quirk等人[1]提出的独立形式的最大化子，包括绝对、完全、完全、完全、极端和完全。从共时的角度出发，基于口语数据总结了这些独立的最大化者的话语功能。总的来说，结果显示，在六个独立的最大化者中，绝对、完全和完全是演讲者在对话中选择的三个主要候选人。此外，在这三个最大化器中，它绝对处于中心位置，并具有各种功能，其中一些功能是其他独立的最大化器无法完成的。
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Background
In terms of different levels of degree, Quirk et al.[1] identify absolutely as a maximizer. According to OED, absolutely means “in an absolute position, manner, or degree” and it can also be used as an emphatic affirmative. In fact, absolutely also can serve as a response or a discourse marker in conversations, where it is presented as a freestanding form. Thus, absolutely performs various discourse functions in colloquial expressions. Furthermore, what are discourse functions performed by absolutely? Are there any relations among the various functions of absolutely? In addition to absolutely, other freestanding adverbs can be found in English adverbs of degree especially maximizers, such as quite, totally, completely, extremely, and entirely. Is there any difference of discourse functions among these freestanding maximizers? If there is, why does it exist?
A considerable amount of research is concerned with the collocational features and the semantic prosody of certain adverbs of degree in English, especially maximizers in written language. However, there are relatively fewer studies on freestanding adverbs in spoken language. Therefore, it is deemed necessary to explore the differences of discourse functions performed by different freestanding adverbs in conversations and the reason why these differences occur.
A plethora of studies on freestanding adverbs are devoted to synchronic features of them. Firstly, the collocational features of maximizers have garnered much attention. In a corpus-based study, Tao[2] claims absolutely strongly tends to collocate with positive lexical items. Thus, the mechanism in freestanding absolutely lies in the positive prosody of absolutely when it taken as a degree modifier. In contrast to the affirmative meaning of freestanding absolutely, Lee[3] asserts that utterly with the negative prosody does not possess the freestanding form. Moreover, Lee[4] insists that totally tends to collocate with affirmative semantic preferences, while completely is likely to collocate with negative semantic preferences. Hence, the freestanding form of totally is related to interactive pragmatics and it can play various pragmatic roles.
1.2 Research Significance
In spoken discourses, freestanding forms of maximizers such as absolutely and totally, are frequently used to realize cohesion and coherence of discourses and achieve interaction with listeners. Moreover, other maximizers such as completely, quite, extremely, and entirely can also take the role of response in the spoken data of COCA and BNC. Although a vast of maximizers can express the meaning of extremely high degree, there are some maximizers lacking freestanding form, such as utterly, thoroughly, perfectly, and fully. Therefore, the maximizers with freestanding form possess some distinguishing characteristics. As responses or discourse markers, they can indicate the viewpoints of speakers and keep up conver
