A serious study of discourse particles (DIPs) must be founded on the analysis of orality in its two main dimensions: oral communication in its ordinary functioning (i.e., discourse, conversation, enunciation), but also in expression ritualized by the oral tradition of cultures that do not have a writing system. The association of the two dimensions emphasizes the importance of a solid theory and methodology within discourse analysis. To assume as a prerequisite a distinction between morphosyntactic and enunciative levels makes it possible to observe the role played by DIPs in the process of discourse structuring. Examples from Finno-Ugric languages with an oral tradition (the Sami language) and Indo-European languages with a long standing written tradition are examined. A dichotomic classification between particles proper (DIPs "in their own right") and particles "by extension" proves to be operational for a comparison in external contrastivity as well as internal contrastivity. (Author/JP)