Cohesion and Cohesive Devices for Better Communication

Cohesion refers to the linguistic and rhetorical devices that connect sentences, clauses, or phrases together, making the text hang together as a whole. It gives a text structure and makes it more comprehensible for readers.

Cohesive Devices (or cohesive markers) are words or phrases showing the relationship between different text parts. They can be used to show a link between sentences or parts of a text, making it easier for readers to follow the writer’s ideas.

Examples:

1.       "I love chocolate. However, it's not good for my health."

2.      "My sister is a vegetarian; therefore, she doesn't eat meat."

Types of Cohesive Devices with Examples

1.       Reference – using pronouns to refer back to a previously mentioned noun.

·         Example: "Lucy bought a car. She loves it."

2.      Ellipsis – omitting part of a sentence that has been previously mentioned.

·         Example: "I like ice cream, and my sister does too."

3.      Substitution – replacing a word or phrase with another to avoid repetition.

·         Example: "Would you prefer tea or coffee? I'll have the latter."

4.     Conjunctions – connecting words or phrases.

·         Example: "I wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining."

5.      Lexical Cohesion – using related vocabulary.

·         Example: "The garden is full of flowers. The roses are particularly beautiful."

6.      Transitional markers – indicating a change or continuation in thought.

·         Examples: "however", "moreover", "thus", "therefore", etc.

Cohesive Devices and Comprehension

The proper use of cohesive devices is critical for comprehension. When a text is cohesive, it's easier for readers to follow the line of thought, making the content more accessible and understandable.

Example:

Without cohesion: "I love to read. Movies are entertaining. Last week, a film. Books are filled with information."

With cohesion: "I love to read books because they are filled with information. Moreover, movies are entertaining. In fact, I watched a film adapted from a book last week."

In the second version, cohesive devices connect the ideas, providing clearer meaning and improving the reader’s understanding of their relationship.

How to Use Cohesive Devices Correctly

1.       Understand the Relationship: Before selecting a cohesive device, you must understand the relationship between the ideas you connect. Is it a contrast, addition, cause, or effect?

2.      Avoid Overuse: Don't saturate your text with cohesive devices. Use them where necessary for clarity.

3.      Vary Your Choices: Don’t keep using the same device repeatedly. If you’ve used "however" once, maybe use "nonetheless" or "on the other hand" next time.

4.     Maintain Consistency: If you begin with a particular cohesive device, maintain its form. For example, if you start with "Firstly", continue with "Secondly", not "Second".

Tips to Ameliorate Cohesive Device Usage:

1.       Practice Reading: Read a lot and pay attention to how authors use cohesive devices.

2.      Practice Writing: Write essays, short stories, or even diary entries and consciously incorporate cohesive devices.

3.      Peer Review: Have someone else read your writing and point out where the flow seems interrupted or jumpy.

4.     Cohesion Exercises: Many exercises online focus on improving the use of cohesive devices.

5.      Be Purposeful: Before adding a cohesive device, ask yourself if it genuinely adds value and clarity to the text.

By consistently practising and receiving feedback, you'll become more adept at making your writing cohesive and fluid.