1. In Linguistics:
* A grammatical element that signals a specific syntactic function or structure. This could be a word, phrase, or punctuation mark. For example, "that" can be a marker of relative clauses, while commas can be markers of parenthetical clauses.
* A word or phrase that marks a specific type of clause or sentence. For example, "because" marks a subordinate clause that expresses a reason, while "however" marks a sentence that introduces a contrast.
* A feature of a language that helps to distinguish between different types of sentences or phrases. For example, the use of word order in English can be a marker of different sentence types, such as subject-verb-object (SVO) and object-verb-subject (OVS).
2. In Literature and Discourse Analysis:
* A stylistic feature that is used to signal a particular meaning or effect. For example, a writer might use rhetorical questions, repetition, or a specific tone of voice to create a particular mood or to emphasize a particular point.
* A word or phrase that is used to signal a shift in topic, perspective, or discourse. For example, "however" can be used to signal a contrast, while "therefore" can be used to signal a conclusion.
3. In Computer Science:
* A symbol or sequence of symbols that is used to identify a particular type of data or instruction. For example, in programming languages, semicolons often act as statement terminators.
To understand the specific meaning of "syntactical marker" in a particular context, you need to consider the surrounding text and the field of study. For example, a linguist might be referring to a grammatical feature, while a literary critic might be referring to a stylistic device.
Here are some examples of syntactical markers:
* Words: "because," "although," "however," "that," "which"
* Phrases: "in order to," "on the other hand," "as a result"
* Punctuation: commas, semicolons, parentheses
* Word order: SVO, OVS
* Tone of voice: sarcasm, irony, humor
Overall, "syntactical marker" is a broad term that can encompass a wide range of grammatical, stylistic, and computational features.