Taking data from contemporary press, this paper examines the meaning of the Slovenian connective pa ('and', 'but'), especially in relation to the connectives ker ('because') and sicer ('otherwise') with which it forms the compound connectives ker pa ('but since') and sicer pa ('anyway'). As a starting point, Zagar assesses a dictionary definition of pa, ker and sicer. Arguing that a more traditional, classificatory account is inadequate, Zagar focuses on two central issues: the first is an explanation of the meaning of pa in compound connectives, and the second is an account of the roles of ker and sicer when used independently and in concert with pa. To clarify these two issues, Zagar relies on the notions of topoi and polyphony as employed in the framework of argumentation theory.