Reading: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence (Mastery): C1 Lesson 2: Understanding How Cohesion is Achieved in Complex and Stylistically Varied Texts
CEFR Level: C1 (Advanced)
Target Reading Sub-skill: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence (Mastery)
Specific Focus: Analyzing How Cohesion is Achieved in Complex and Stylistically Varied Texts
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Define cohesion and distinguish it from coherence.
- Identify and analyze various grammatical cohesive devices (e.g., reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunctions) in demanding texts.
- Identify and analyze various lexical cohesive devices (e.g., repetition, synonymy, collocation) in demanding texts.
- Analyze how authors use cohesive devices to build meaning and ensure clarity in complex and stylistically varied texts, such as academic articles, literary works, and formal reports relevant to contexts like Cambodian development or global issues.
Hello Cambodian Learners!
Welcome to your next C1 reading lesson! When you read complex English texts – perhaps an analysis of ASEAN economic policies, a challenging English novel, or a detailed environmental report – you'll notice that the sentences and paragraphs don't just sit next to each other; they are skillfully woven together. This "weaving" is called cohesion. Understanding how authors create cohesion will significantly boost your comprehension of sophisticated texts and help you write more fluently in English. Let's explore these vital connections!
I. Understanding Cohesion
What is Cohesion?
Imagine a beautiful silk tapestry from a Cambodian artisan. The individual threads are like words and sentences, but it's how they are interwoven that creates the overall picture and strength of the fabric. In texts, cohesion refers to the grammatical and lexical links that connect different parts of a text—words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs—making it a unified whole. It's the "linguistic glue" that helps a text hang together and make sense.
Cohesion vs. Coherence
These two terms are related but distinct:
- Cohesion: Deals with the explicit linguistic links on the surface of the text. We can point to specific words or grammatical features that create these connections.
- Coherence: Deals with the underlying conceptual links and the overall sense of the text. It's about whether the ideas in the text are logically connected and make sense to the reader.
Good cohesion usually contributes to good coherence, but a text can be cohesive (e.g., using many "and"s) yet not very coherent if the ideas themselves are jumbled.
Why is Cohesion Important, Especially in Complex Texts?
- Aids Comprehension: Helps you follow the writer's train of thought, especially in dense academic or technical writing.
- Clarifies Relationships: Shows how ideas relate to each other (e.g., cause-effect, contrast, addition).
- Improves Flow: Makes a text smoother and easier to read.
- Essential for Advanced Communication: Crucial for understanding and producing sophisticated academic and professional texts.
II. Key Cohesive Devices
Authors use various tools to create cohesion. These can be broadly categorized into grammatical and lexical devices.
A. Grammatical Cohesion
1. Reference
Reference words point to other items in the text (or sometimes outside it). The most common are pronouns (he, she, it, they, this, that) and some adverbs (here, there, then).
- Anaphoric Reference: Points back to something already mentioned.
Example: "Cambodia has a rich cultural heritage. It attracts many tourists." (It refers to 'Cambodia' or 'Cambodia's rich cultural heritage').
- Cataphoric Reference: Points forward to something that will be mentioned. (Less common, often used for stylistic effect).
Example: "This is what she believed: that education was the key to progress." (This refers to 'that education was the key to progress').
- Exophoric Reference: Points to something outside the text, in the shared world or cultural context.
Example: "Have you visited the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh recently?" (Assumes shared knowledge of the Royal Palace).
2. Substitution
Replacing a word, phrase, or clause with a "counter" word like 'one', 'ones', 'do', 'so', 'not'.
- Nominal (Noun): "I prefer the red mangoes. The green ones are too sour." (ones = mangoes)
- Verbal (Verb): "Sophea said she would finish the report, and she did." (did = finish the report)
- Clausal (Clause): "Will it rain tomorrow? I hope not." (not = it will not rain tomorrow)
3. Ellipsis
Omitting words or phrases that are understood from the context, creating a more concise text.
- Nominal: "I bought two kilos of fish. My brother bought three (kilos of fish)."
- Verbal: "Who wants to go? I do (want to go)."
- Clausal: "He said he would help, but he didn't (help)."
4. Conjunctions (Connectors)
Words or phrases that explicitly link clauses, sentences, or paragraphs, signaling relationships between ideas.
- Additive: (e.g., and, also, furthermore, moreover, in addition)
"The Mekong River is vital for agriculture. Furthermore, it supports incredible biodiversity."
- Adversative/Contrastive: (e.g., but, however, yet, nevertheless, on the other hand)
"Economic development is progressing rapidly; however, challenges in equitable distribution remain."
- Causal: (e.g., because, so, therefore, consequently, as a result)
"Heavy monsoon rains occurred; consequently, some low-lying areas experienced flooding."
- Temporal: (e.g., then, next, after that, finally, meanwhile, subsequently)
"Initially, the project faced funding issues. Subsequently, new investors were found."
B. Lexical Cohesion
This involves connections made through vocabulary choices.
- Repetition: Repeating key words or phrases for emphasis or to keep focus.
"Effective conservation requires community involvement. Without this conservation effort, local ecosystems suffer."
- Synonyms/Near-Synonyms: Using words with similar meanings.
"The ancient temples of Angkor are magnificent. These historic structures tell stories of a powerful empire."
- Antonyms: Using words with opposite meanings (often to create contrast).
"While some argue for rapid modernization, others advocate for the preservation of tradition."
- Hyponymy & Meronymy:
- Hyponymy (General/Specific): A general term (hypernym) and its specific instances (hyponyms).
"Various fruits (hypernym) are grown in Cambodia, including mangoes, durian, and rambutan (hyponyms)."
- Meronymy (Part/Whole): One term is a part of another.
"A traditional Cambodian house (whole) often features a high roof, stilts, and woven walls (parts)."
- Hyponymy (General/Specific): A general term (hypernym) and its specific instances (hyponyms).
- Collocation: Words that frequently occur together (e.g., 'make a decision', 'heavy rain', 'strong commitment').
"The government has shown a strong commitment to improving infrastructure."
Practice Activity: Identifying Cohesive Devices
Read each excerpt. Identify the type of cohesive device highlighted or described. Choose the best option.
III. Cohesion in Action: Complex and Varied Texts
Understanding cohesion is particularly vital when tackling C1-level texts, which are often dense and stylistically diverse.
A. Cohesion in Complex Texts
- Academic Texts (e.g., research papers, essays):
Expect sophisticated use of logical connectors (consequently, nevertheless, thus), precise anaphoric reference to link complex ideas across sentences and paragraphs, and repetition of key terminology. Cohesion helps build and sustain complex arguments.
- Literary Texts (e.g., novels, short stories):
Cohesion might be more subtle. Look for pronoun chains to track characters, temporal connectors to follow plot, and lexical chains (e.g., words related to a theme like 'darkness' or 'hope') to understand mood and symbolism.
- News Reports/Opinion Pieces (e.g., analyzing Cambodian economic trends):
Clear referencing is crucial for attributing sources. Connectors link arguments, counter-arguments, and evidence. Lexical choices can subtly build a particular perspective.
B. Cohesion in Stylistically Varied Texts
- Formal vs. Informal Language:
Formal texts (e.g., official reports) tend to use a wider range of explicit conjunctions, less ellipsis, and more complex referencing. Informal texts (e.g., personal blogs) might use simpler connectors (so, but), more ellipsis, and more direct, less varied referencing.
- Narrative vs. Expository vs. Persuasive Texts:
Narrative: Dominated by temporal connectors (then, next, meanwhile) and pronoun reference for characters. Expository (explaining): Relies on logical connectors (for example, in addition, therefore) and clear lexical chains to define and elaborate on topics. Persuasive: Uses strong adversative (however, yet) and causal (consequently, as a result) connectors, repetition for emphasis, and rhetorical questions linked cohesively to answers.
Quick Quiz!
Well Done!
Mastering the art of identifying and understanding cohesion is a significant step in your C1 English journey. It unlocks deeper comprehension of complex texts and empowers you to write with greater clarity and sophistication. Keep practicing this skill as you read widely in English!