Speaking: Fluency & Coherence C2 - Lesson 2: Artistic & Seamless Use of Cohesive Devices
Welcome back! At the C2 level, we move beyond simply connecting ideas with basic discourse markers. The goal is to create elegant discourse1, where the connections are so smooth and sophisticated they feel invisible. This is achieved by mastering a range of subtle grammatical and lexical2 cohesive devices3.
Lexical Cohesion: Weaving Ideas with Vocabulary
This advanced technique involves creating links through your word choices, forming a logical thread throughout your speech.
- 1. Repetition of Key Thematic Words
- Deliberately repeating a crucial word reinforces your central theme.
- Example: "The goal is innovation. But true innovation requires risk. And we must be willing to embrace that risk to achieve real innovation."
- 2. Using Sophisticated Synonyms
- Using different words with similar meanings prevents repetition while maintaining the topic.
- Example: "The city's rapid growth is undeniable. However, this level of expansion puts a huge strain on services. Managing this development is our key challenge."
- 3. Creating "Lexical Chains"
- Use a sequence of related words (e.g., from general to specific) to create a sophisticated flow.
- Example: "I've always been interested in technology. I started by studying software, then focused on cybersecurity, and now my specific field is cryptography."
Grammatical Cohesion: Advanced Referencing
At C2, you should be able to use pronouns like `this` or `that` to refer back to an entire complex idea, not just a single noun.
Standard: "The company decided to invest heavily in renewable energy. This decision was very important."
C1/C2 Seamless: "The company decided to invest heavily in renewable energy, a decision that ultimately transformed its public image."
Standard: "The government implemented stricter environmental regulations. These regulations were popular."
C1/C2 Seamless: "The government implemented stricter environmental regulations. Such measures were long overdue."
Scenario: An Academic Lecture
Listen to this excerpt from a university lecture. Notice the variety of cohesive devices the professor uses to create a seamless and academic discourse.
"Today we're discussing the concept of globalization. This is not a new phenomenon, of course, but its modern form is unique. In the past, this interconnectedness was primarily driven by trade in physical goods. Now, it's driven by the flow of information.
This fundamental shift from atoms to bits has profound consequences. For instance, a financial crisis that starts in one country can spread globally in a matter of hours, not weeks. Such a situation was almost unimaginable 50 years ago. Understanding this new form of globalization, therefore, is the key to understanding our modern world."
(Lexical Chain: Globalization -> phenomenon -> interconnectedness -> shift -> consequences -> situation. Advanced Referencing: "This fundamental shift," "Such a situation.")
The Goal: An Unbroken Logical Thread
Imagine your speech is a piece of fine silk fabric. The discourse markers from B2 level (`However`, `Therefore`) are the strong, visible stitches holding the main pieces together. The C1/C2 cohesive devices (lexical chains, advanced referencing) are the thousands of tiny, invisible threads that make the fabric smooth and strong. A listener might not be able to point to every single device you use, but they will *feel* the result: a coherent, elegant, and effortlessly logical discourse.
Practice Quiz: Identify the Cohesive Device
Read the sentences and identify the primary cohesive device being used.
1. "The company faced a series of ethical scandals. These events permanently damaged its reputation." The phrase "These events" is an example of:
A) Repetition of a key word.
B) Advanced referencing, referring back to the entire concept of the scandals.
C) A lexical chain.
→ Answer: B. The pronoun "These" doesn't just refer to the word "scandals" but to the entire situation described in the first sentence.
2. "His research focused on large carnivores, particularly big cats. His work on lions, tigers, and leopards is world-renowned." The sequence "carnivores -> big cats -> lions, tigers, leopards" is a classic example of:
A) A lexical chain.
B) A discourse marker.
C) A substitution using "one".
→ Answer: A. The speaker moves from a general category to more specific examples within that category, creating a cohesive and logical flow.
Your Mission: The "Elegant Elaboration" Challenge
Your mission is to practice expanding a simple idea into a sophisticated, coherent paragraph.
- Start with a simple core sentence. For example: "Learning English is important."
- Record yourself elaborating on this idea for 60-90 seconds.
- Your Goal: As you speak, you must use at least two different advanced cohesive devices from this lesson. For example, a lexical chain and an advanced reference.
- Example Elaboration:
"(Core idea) Learning English is important. (Lexical chain begins) This language has become the world's lingua franca, essential for international business, science, and diplomacy. This global communication tool allows people from diverse backgrounds to connect and collaborate. Such a connection would be impossible otherwise. Therefore, mastering the English language is not just a personal skill; it's a passport to the global community."
Vocabulary Glossary
- Discourse: (Noun) - Khmer: សុន្ទរកថា - Spoken or written communication, especially a formal discussion of a topic. ↩
- Lexical: (Adjective) - Khmer: ទាក់ទងនឹងវាក្យសព្ទ - Relating to the words or vocabulary of a language. ↩
- Cohesive Device: (Noun Phrase) - Khmer: ពាក្យ ឬឃ្លាដែលភ្ជាប់ផ្នែកផ្សេងៗនៃអត្ថបទ ឬសុន្ទរកថា បង្កើតឱ្យមានឯកភាព និងលំហូរ - A word or phrase that links different parts of a text or speech, creating unity and flow. ↩
- Elegant (in language): (Adjective) - Khmer: ប្រណិត (ជាភាសា) - Graceful, stylish, and cleverly effective in its simplicity and clarity. ↩
- Seamless: (Adjective) - Khmer: គ្មានថ្នេរ រលូន- Happening smoothly, without any interruptions or obvious transitions. ↩