Introduction to Grammatical Cohesion

Relevance of the Topic:

Grammatical cohesion is one of the solid pillars of mastering the Portuguese language. This allows the discourse to flow naturally, clearly, and understandably for the reader. No discussion, essay, or text is complete without proper cohesion. The ability to connect ideas and build a continuous discourse is essential not only in text analysis but also in text production, especially in academic writing and professional environments.

Contextualization:

Grammatical cohesion is a central topic within the broad field of grammar. It is positioned as an element of textual microstructure, along with coherence. Cohesion, at its core, deals with the relationships between the linguistic elements of a text, contributing to the sequentiality and logic of its structure. Thus, it is inseparable from other aspects of grammar, such as semantics and syntax. The study of cohesion helps to understand how words, sentences, and paragraphs interact and connect in the formation of textual meaning. Without cohesion, ideas dissolve, getting lost in a mishmash of words without any link. It is through cohesion tools that we elaborate texts that make sense to us and others.

Theoretical Development

Components of Grammatical Cohesion

• Reference: The ability of words or expressions to refer to other ideas or elements already mentioned in the text. Pronouns, synonyms, hypernyms, and other linguistic resources are used to ensure semantic continuity.

  • Example: In the text "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow.", the pronoun "it" refers to the car key.

• Substitution: The ability to replace words or expressions with equivalent ones, without loss of meaning to the text. This avoids excessive repetition, making the text more pleasant and enriching the vocabulary.

  • Example: In the text "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow.", "car key" was replaced by "it".

• Ellipsis: The omission of terms that can be deduced by the context, without causing ambiguity or harm to understanding. It is an important resource to combat redundancy and make the text more concise.

  • Example: In the text "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow.", the verb "was" had its subject implied, which is the car key.

• Temporal Coherence: The maintenance of agreement between verb tenses throughout the text, to ensure the temporal logic of the actions and events narrated.

  • Example: In the text "Maria will take the car key. It is under the pillow.", the verb "will take" is in the future, and the verb "is" is in the present, with no temporal incoherence.

Key Terms

• Anaphora: A word or expression that, in a text, refers to something that was previously mentioned.

  • Example: In the text "Maria took an apple. She was hungry.", the pronoun "she" is an anaphora referring to Maria.

• Cataphora: A word or expression that, in a text, refers to something that will be mentioned later.

  • Example: In the text "The food was delicious. John devoured everything.", the pronoun "The" in the first sentence is a cataphora referring to the food mentioned in the second sentence.

• Verbal and Nominal Agreement: Verbal agreement deals with the relationship between the subject and the verb, while nominal agreement deals with the relationship between the noun and its modifiers (article, numeral, adjective, and pronoun). These are grammatical rules that govern sentence formation.

  • Example of verbal agreement: "Maria takes the car key."
  • Example of nominal agreement: "The red car belongs to Maria."

Examples and Cases

• Case 1 - Reference

  • Context: "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow."
  • Analysis: In this case, the pronoun "it" refers to the car key, which makes the sentence grammatically cohesive.
  • Relevance: Understanding the reference is fundamental for interpreting the text.

• Case 2 - Substitution

  • Context: "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow."
  • Analysis: Here, "it" replaces "the car key", avoiding repetition. The substitution contributes to the fluidity of the text.
  • Relevance: Substitution is a vital tool in constructing richer and more refined texts.

• Case 3 - Ellipsis

  • Context: "Maria took the car key. It was under the pillow."
  • Analysis: The verb "was" has its subject implied, which is the car key. The ellipsis makes the text more concise.
  • Relevance: Ellipsis is a resource that facilitates reading and makes the text more expressive.

• Case 4 - Temporal Coherence

  • Context: "Maria will take the car key. It is under the pillow."
  • Analysis: The verbs are in coherent verb tenses, with no temporal incoherence.
  • Relevance: Temporal coherence is a key element for the clarity and logic of the text.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points:

• The Importance of Grammatical Cohesion: Grammatical cohesion is a key element in text construction. It allows the proper linking of words, sentences, and paragraphs in the text, leading to a clear understanding of the ideas presented.

• Components of Grammatical Cohesion: Grammatical cohesion is achieved through various elements, such as reference, substitution, ellipsis, and temporal coherence. Each of these aspects contributes to the construction of a cohesive and fluid discourse.

• Anaphora and Cataphora: The recognition and proper use of these resources are crucial for grammatical cohesion. They allow the reference to elements previously mentioned (anaphora) or to be mentioned later (cataphora), giving the text the necessary continuity for its understanding.

• Verbal and Nominal Agreement: Grammatical cohesion is also strongly influenced by the rules of verbal agreement (relationship between subject and verb) and nominal agreement (relationship between noun and its modifiers). The correct application of these rules contributes to the precision and consistency of the text.

Conclusions:

• Improve Your Writing: Understanding and proper application of the principles of grammatical cohesion are essential for improving writing skills. It is only with grammatical cohesion that a text can be considered integrated and logical.

• Subtle yet Powerful Influence: Grammatical cohesion often goes unnoticed in our readings. However, it is a vital component in written communication, significantly influencing the clarity and understanding of the text.

• Practice, Practice, Practice: Mastery of grammatical cohesion is a skill that improves with practice. Reading and writing a variety of texts can help enhance the understanding and application of these concepts.

Exercises:

1. Identify the elements of grammatical cohesion (reference, substitution, ellipsis, and temporal coherence) in a paragraph of a text of your choice.
2. Rewrite a paragraph, maintaining coherence and improving grammatical cohesion through the use of anaphora and cataphora.
3. Give an example of each: reference, substitution, ellipsis, anaphora, and cataphora, in the form of independent sentences. This exercise will help solidify the understanding of these concepts.