Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C2 - Lesson 1: Extensive, Precise & Sophisticated Lexical Repertoire

Speaking: Fluency & Coherence C2

Artistic & Seamless Use of Cohesive Devices

What you will learn: At the C2 level, we move beyond basic discourse markers to create elegant discourse, where connections are so smooth and sophisticated they feel invisible.

Lexical Cohesion: Weaving Ideas with Vocabulary 🧵

This advanced technique involves creating links through your word choices, forming a logical thread throughout your speech.

1. Using Sophisticated Synonyms

Using different words with similar meanings prevents repetition while maintaining the topic.

"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."

2. Creating "Lexical Chains"

Use a sequence of related words (e.g., from general to specific) to create a sophisticated flow.

"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 and determiners to refer back to an entire complex idea, not just a single noun.

Standard Referencing

"The government implemented stricter environmental regulations. These regulations were popular."

C2 Seamless Referencing

"The government implemented stricter environmental regulations. Such measures were long overdue."

Case Study: An Academic Lecture 🎓

Listen to this excerpt from a university lecture. Notice the variety of cohesive devices the professor uses to create a seamless 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."

Practice & Application 🎯

💡 The Goal: An Unbroken Logical Thread

Imagine your speech is a piece of fine silk fabric. The discourse markers from the B2 level (like `However` or `Therefore`) are the strong, visible stitches holding the main pieces together. The C2 cohesive devices 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, but they will *feel* the result: a coherent, elegant, and effortlessly logical discourse.

✍️ Practice Quiz: Identify the Cohesive Device

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 to the entire concept of the scandals.
C) A lexical chain.

→ Answer: B. "These events" 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 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, creating a cohesive flow.

Key Terminology

• Discourse (Noun) | សុន្ទរកថា
  Spoken or written communication, especially a formal discussion of a topic.
• Lexical (Adjective) | ទាក់ទងនឹងវាក្យសព្ទ
  Relating to the words or vocabulary of a language.
• Cohesive Device (Noun Phrase)
  A word or phrase that links different parts of a speech, creating unity and flow.
• Elegant (in language) (Adjective) | ប្រណិត
  Graceful, stylish, and cleverly effective in its clarity.

Your Mission: The "Elegant Elaboration" Challenge ⭐

Your mission is to practice expanding a simple idea into a sophisticated, coherent paragraph.

1. Start with a simple core sentence. (e.g., "Learning English is important.")
2. Record yourself elaborating on this idea for 60-90 seconds.
3. Your Goal: As you speak, you must use at least two different advanced cohesive devices from this lesson (e.g., a lexical chain and an advanced reference).
4. 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. Such a connection would be impossible otherwise. Therefore, mastering English is not just a personal skill; it's a passport to the global community."