Reading: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence (Advanced)
B2 Lesson 2: Understanding Complex Cohesive Devices and Reference Systems
The 'Invisible Glue' of Writing
Fluent writers use sophisticated techniques to connect their ideas smoothly and avoid repetition. These techniques are called Cohesive Devices1. They act like an "invisible glue," holding the text together so that it flows logically.
Today, we will learn to recognize advanced cohesive devices, including substitution2, ellipsis3, and complex reference systems5.
Advanced Cohesive Devices
1. Substitution (Replacing words to avoid repetition)
This is when a writer uses a simple word (like `one` or `so`) to replace a longer phrase that was just mentioned.
Example: "I need to buy a new phone, but I haven't decided which one to get."
(Here, `one` replaces the noun `phone`.)
Example: "The government promised to improve the roads, and they plan to do so next year."
(Here, `do so` replaces the verb phrase `improve the roads`.)
2. Ellipsis (Omitting words that are understood)
This is when a writer leaves words out of a sentence because the meaning is clear from the context. The reader must mentally "fill in the blank."
Example: "My brother loves the smell of durian, but I hate it."
(The text says 'it' instead of repeating 'the smell of durian'.)
Example: "Some people prefer to holiday in the mountains, while others prefer the sea."
(The phrase "to holiday in" is omitted from the second part of the sentence to avoid repetition.)
3. Lexical Cohesion (Using synonyms and related words)
This involves referring to a central idea using different but related vocabulary to avoid sounding repetitive.
Example: "The rapid development in Kampot is creating many business opportunities. However, managing this level of growth requires careful planning. Without a good strategy, such a fast expansion could harm the town's unique character."
(Here, `development`, `growth`, and `expansion` all refer to the same core idea.)
4. Advanced Referencing (Using 'this'/'that' for whole ideas)
Sometimes, words like `this` or `that` don't refer to a single noun, but to an entire situation or idea from the previous sentence.
Example: "More than 50% of the town's electricity was cut off during the storm last night. This caused significant problems for local businesses."
(What does `This` refer to? It refers to the entire idea of "the electricity being cut off during the storm.")
Your Turn! What is it referring to?
Practice Quiz
Read the sentences and answer the question about the cohesive device.
1. "There are several good coffee shops in town, but my favorite is the one on the riverfront."
What does "one" refer to in this sentence?
Answer: It refers to "coffee shop." This is an example of substitution.
2. "The company failed to meet its environmental targets and did not invest in cleaner technology. That was a major disappointment for its investors."
What does "That" refer to in this sentence?
- A. The investors
- B. The cleaner technology
- C. The company's failure to meet targets and invest
Answer: C. This is an example of advanced referencing, where 'That' refers to the entire situation described in the previous sentence.
Vocabulary Glossary
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Cohesive Devices (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ពាក្យ និងរចនាសម្ព័ន្ធវេយ្យាករណ៍ដែលភ្ជាប់អត្ថបទមួយជាមួយគ្នាដើម្បីធ្វើឱ្យវារលូន និងឡូជីខល។
Words and grammatical structures that link a text together to make it smooth and logical. ↩ back to text -
Substitution (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការជំនួស
Replacing a word or phrase with a shorter word (like 'one' or 'do so') to avoid repetition. ↩ back to text -
Ellipsis (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការលុបពាក្យ
Omitting words from a sentence when the meaning is already clear from the context. ↩ back to text -
Lexical Cohesion (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការភ្ជាប់គំនិតដោយប្រើពាក្យមានន័យដូច ឬពាក្យដែលទាក់ទងនឹងប្រធានបទ ដើម្បីជៀសវាងការផ្ទួន
Connecting ideas by using synonyms or topically-related words to avoid repetition. ↩ back to text -
Reference System (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ប្រព័ន្ធយោង
The way pronouns and words like 'this' or 'that' point back to other words or ideas in a text. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Be a Cohesion Detective!
Find a short English news article (2-3 paragraphs).
- Read it carefully and find one example of substitution or ellipsis. Write down the sentence.
- Find one example of lexical cohesion (where the author uses a synonym or related word to refer to an earlier idea). Write down both words/phrases.
- Find one example of this, that, these, or those referring back to a previous idea. Circle the reference word and underline the idea it refers to.