Recognize and Interpret Cohesive Devices

RECOGNIZE
AND
INTERPRET
COHESIVE
DEVICES
COHESIVE DEVICE
 Cohesive device is a device which holds different parts of
a thing together.
 Cohesive devices are typically single words or phrases
that hold and hang different parts of the text.
 Function: The major function of cohesion is
 text formation.
 Helps in achieving unity of text as a semantic whole.
unified whole of linguistic items.

 A text must be meaningful. A text that is not cohesive is
never meaningful.
 They show the logical relationship between sentences
and paragraphs.e.g.
1. Aslam (proper noun) is an intelligent boy.
He (pronoun) always stand first in class.

He is holding two sentences together.
2. Mary will jump if she is fit.
3. The company will change its policy.
4. Ayesha wants to know if her proposal was accepted.

 Cohesive devices may take a number of forms
e.g. pronouns, nouns, conjunctions etc.

Numerous words are considered
cohesive devices in the English
language. For example; however, in
conclusion, basically, at last,
eventually, after all, rarely, normally,
at first, often, further, and firstly.
Each of the above examples can be
used to start a sentence to link together
the sentences or story.
TYPES OF COHESIVE DEVICES

Sentences that are presented as a whole
are linked and related to each other by
means of specific cohesive devices, i.e.
1) Reference,
2) Substitution,
3) Ellipsis,
4) Conjunctions,
5) Lexical items
1. REFERENCE
 Reference is used to describe the different
ways in which entities- things, people, events are referred
to within texts
 Linguistic features e.g. pronouns are used to refer to the
already mentioned entities.
 e.g. Saira went to the market in rain. She stepped in
puddle and never went there again.
 She and there show that the information about them is
retrieved elsewhere within the text.
 This type of cohesion is called reference.
 Types:
1. - Personal ref; e.g. I, me, mine, mine, his, her, they,

them, he, she, you, we, us etc.
2. Demonstrative ref; (This/these, that/those,
here/there)
 It is a form of pointing the referent on the basis of
proximity (near, far)e.g.
i. Leave that there and come here.
ii. I like these books but I don’t like those.
3. Comparative ref; Here things compared show

likeness or unlikeness.e.g.
i. It is the same pen I bought yesterday.
ii. It is different pen from the one I bought yesterday.
(general)
iii. There are twice as many books there as the last
time.
2)SUBSTITUTION
 It is replacement of one linguistic item by another i.e.
replacement of one word/phrase with another
word/phrase.
 Used to avoid repetition of a particular item..e.g.
1. The glass broke. I must get another.

You know she already know this. I think
everybody does.
2. A: I will have two eggs on the bread.
B: I will have the same.
3. I don’t know the meaning of those words, and I don’t
believe you do either.
4. Is this mango ripe?
It seems so
3)ELLIPSIS
 It is the deletion or omission of a linguistic item.
 It can be interpreted as that form of substitution in which
an item is replaced by nothing.
 An occasion when words are deliberately left out of a
sentence, though the meaning can still be understood.
Leaving out of words or sentences as they are necessary
because they have already been referred or mentioned.
e.g.
A: Where are you going?
B: To town instead of I am going to town.
A: Have you been swimming?
B: yes
4)CONJUNCTION

• A word which joins words and sentences
such as but, because, when, and, so, or,
unless etc.
Categories:
i. Additive (substance added to another)
ii. Adversative (contrary to expectations)
iii. Causal (relations expressed by so,
hence, therefore, thus)
iv. Temporal (relation expressed by “then”
5)LEXICAL COHESION
 Lexical cohesion is established through
vocabulary.
While reference, ellipsis and conjunction
tend to link clauses which are near each
other in the text, lexical cohesion tends to
link much larger parts of the text
 Lexical cohesion is created by
Reiteration and Collocation
-
 Reiteration; involves
- the repetition of the same word
- a synonym or near-synonym
- a general word
e.g. There is a boy climbing that tree
- The boy is going to fall…….
- The lad is going to fall……..
-The idiot is going to fall……
 Collocation; is the way in which particular
words tend to occur or belong together.

the fast train----------the quick train
fast food ------------- quick food
a quick shower -------- a fast shower
a quick meal ----------- a fast meal

Recognize and Interpret Cohesive Devices

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Recognize and Interpret Cohesive Devices

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Recognize and Interpret Cohesive Devices

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RECOGNIZE

 Helps in achieving unity of text as a semantic whole.

unified whole of linguistic items.

He (pronoun) always stand first in class.

3. The company will change its policy.

4. Ayesha wants to know if her proposal was accepted.

e.g. pronouns, nouns, conjunctions etc.

1. - Personal ref; e.g. I, me, mine, mine, his, her, they,

3. Comparative ref; Here things compared show

1. The glass broke. I must get another.

words tend to occur or belong together.

You might also like