Cohesion and Coherence的区别

Cohesion and Coherence

Cohesion can be thought of as all the grammatical and lexical links

that link one part of a text to another. This includes use of synonyms,

lexical sets, pronouns, verb tenses, time references, grammatical

reference, etc. For example, 'it', 'neither' and 'this' all refer to an idea

previously mentioned. 'First of all', 'then' and 'after that' help to

sequence a text. 'However', 'in addition' and 'for instance' link ideas

and arguments in a text.

Coherence can be thought of as how meanings and sequences of

ideas relate to each other. Typical examples would be general>

particular; statement> example; problem> solution; question>

answer; claim> counter-claim.

What does cohesion mean?

You might think of cohesion as a means of establishing connections

within a text at all sorts of different levels, e.g., section, paragraphs,

sentences and even phrases.

How is cohesion different from coherence? It is difficult to separate

the two. However, think of coherence as the text making sense as a

whole at an ideas level, and cohesion as rather more mechanical

links at a language level. You can imagine that it is possible for a

piece of writing to contain plenty of cohesion yet little coherence.

Cohesion is the glue that holds a piece of writing together. In other

words, if a paper is cohesive, it sticks together from sentence to

sentence and from paragraph to paragraph. Cohesive devices

certainly include transitional words and phrases, such as therefore,

furthermore, or for instance, that clarify for readers the relationships

among ideas in a piece of writing. However, transitions aren't enough

to make writing cohesive. Repetition of key words and use of

reference words are also needed for cohesion.

Cohesion Devices

Lexical level:

Repetition

Word family repeated

Synonyms, antonyms, other word relations

Thematically related words (lexical set)

Substations with one/ones

Grammatical level:

Reference: article, pronouns, normalization

Substitution of clause elements using so, not, do/does/did, etc

Ellipsis of clause elements

Linking words: conjunctions and conjuncts

Comparatives

Verb tense

Rhetorical techniques

Question and answer

Parallelism

Coherence

When sentences, ideas, and details fit together clearly, readers can

follow along easily, and the writing is coherent. The ideas tie together

smoothly and clearly. To establish the links that readers need, you

can use the methods listed here.

Repetition of a Key Term or Phrase

This helps to focus your ideas and to keep your reader on track.

Example: The problem with contemporary art is that it is not

easily understood by most people. Contemporary art is

deliberately abstract, and that means it leaves the viewer

wondering what she is looking at.

Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have essentially the same meaning, and

they provide some variety in your word choices, helping the reader to

stay focused on the idea being discussed.

Example: Myths narrate sacred histories and explain sacred

origins. These traditional narratives are, in short, a set of beliefs

that are a very real force in the lives of the people who tell them.

Pronouns

This, that, these, those, he, she, it, they, and we are useful pronouns

for referring back to something previously mentioned. Be sure,

however, that what you are referring to is clear.

Example: When scientific experiments do not work out as

expected, they are often considered failures until some other

scientist tries them again. Those that work out better the

second time around are the ones that promise the most rewards.

Transitional Words

There are many words in English that cue our readers to relationships

between sentences, joining sentences together. Words such as

“however”,

“therefore”,

“in addition”,

“also”,

“but”,

“moreover”, etc.

Example: I like autumn, and yet autumn is a sad time of the year,

too. The leaves turn bright shades of red and the weather is

mild, but I can't help thinking ahead to the winter and the ice

storms that will surely blow through here. In addition, that will

be the season of chapped faces, too many layers of clothes to

put on, and days when I'll have to shovel heaps of snow from

my car's windshield.

Sentence Patterns

Sometimes, repeated or parallel sentence patterns can help the

reader follow along and keep ideas tied together.