Metatextual operators indicating the source of information in online texts on the discursive forums

Abstract

The electronic conversations led on the discursive forums have many features which characterize spoken communication in the real world. The opportunity of using the Internet resources is one of the reasons of the high level of intertextuality in texts online. The aim of the article is to analyse the metatextual elements that indicate the source of information. Metatextual operators allow the interlocutor to introduce particular subjects with a reference to his/her personal experience (e.g. I think, from my experience). The authors often quote specialists’ points of view using expressions such as according to, as X said. Furthermore, the article provides examples of operators which indicate commonness of information when the source of facts is human being’s general knowledge (e.g. it is known that). The lexes used during implementing the gossips (e.g. rumour has if) have been also described in the article. Finally, wisdom, known as folk wisdom as well, appears as an interesting source of information. It is a genesis of the lexicon of formula like the proverb says.