Fig. 1. Frequency of markers by typology and social network

Source: created by the author

4.1. Analysis & discussion

4.1.1. Pero (but)

We can see from the data obtained that pero is the most frequent marker on the three networks. The usage of this common connector includes several nuances (Domínguez García, 2007: 98). It acts on these platforms as an argumentative connec-tor when the speaker employs it to cancel out the conclusions of the previous utterance, by means of the enouncement it introduces:

(1) Face coverings yes, face coverings no, gloves yes, gloves no, air-born drops, now surfaces aren’t a problem, honestly, I don’t have this gentleman’s brain, but (pero) nor would I want to cos it’s a case of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Could they just tell us a tiny bit of the truth????? If not for themselves, then for the healthcare workers [...] (Facebook, 19-05-2020).

(2) Mr Prime Minister, I can understand that it’s difficult to handle a pandemic, but really (pero en serio) is there no other way? Children of 6 to 12, where are they supposed to be if parents like me have to go to work so that other parents can go to work? (Twitter, 28-04-2020).

(3) That’s right. Spain should have acted energetically from the first case, back on January 31, nobody would have understood such measures, but (pero) a good epidemiologist would have known that when you find one case, there are 50 or 100 more and could have explained that to the country and its leaders. [...] (YouTube, 01-03-2020).