MARCADORES DE (IN)CONCLUSIóN EN EL ESPA？OL HABLADO EN MéRIDA-VENEZUELA*

in this paper i examine the function of a group of discourse markers that have so far been neglected by researchers. i have labelled them markers of (in)conclusiveness for their apparent function of pointing out sequence closures which, at times, are left open for the interlocutor to finish. i focus on expressions like y tal, y eso, y la broma, y la cuestión, y no sé qué, among others. my data consists of the transcriptions of corpus sociolingüístico de mérida (domínguez y mora 1995). findings suggest that the markers of (in)conclusiveness correspond, indeed, to the description of this type of units and, therefore, they can be included in the groups of discourse markers.