Modality and connectors. Comparison of modal particles, discursive markers and connectors in German

Aim. To compare the class of connectors, modal particles and discursive markers in the German language from the point of view of their functional features and identify their similarities and differ­ences, as well as determine the role of connectors within the category of modality. Methodology. Based on the descriptive, comparative and transformational methods, the syntactic features of connectors were analyzed, the similarities and differences between connectors and the class of modal particles and discursive markers were revealed. Results. The article proves that in the colloquial speech connectors can act as modal particles and discursive markers, linking the parts of a dialogue into a single whole and creating a logical transition from one topic to another. Connectors also have an additional pragmatic function. Research implications . The results of the study are useful both for communicative linguistics and theoretical grammar of the German language. The data obtained can be used in the further study of connectors in the German language.