The discourse functions of given information

Givenness is a very crucial discourse notion. Apart from being the condition of use imposed on quite a few linguistic forms (definite NP's, presuppositions, anaphoric expressions, gaps, etc.), it can be correlated with specific discourse functions. Giveness markers indicate to the addressee that he has to retrieve some information from memory. Moreover, these markers are specialized as to memory type, so that addressee is instructed where to search for the entity. However, we cannot claim one unique - function for all Given material. Specifically, Given NP's are used to form successful acts of referring. Given VP's create local cohesive ties. Given clauses guide the addressee as to the relevance of the main assertion it is attached to. Whole Given utterances are presented in order to persuade the addressee to accept other speaker's assertions.