Brief Introduction of the Application of Lexical Cohesive Devices in Journalistic English

乙曉燕

【Abstract】Lexical cohesion plays an important part in achieving textual coherence and reiteration and collocation are two principle kinds of lexical cohesion. Through analyzing the discourse of news, this paper aims to demonstrate how lexical cohesive devices are used to achieve coherence in journalistic English.

【Key words】lexical cohesion; reiteration; collocation

Nowadays, journalistic English is applied to newspapers and other forms of news reports. In our country, English newspapers 21st Century is familiar to us. Focusing on an interception of a piece of news published in 21st Century, this paper will analyze the lexical cohesion in it.

1. Lexical Cohesion

Lexical cohesion plays an important part in achieving textual coherence. The two main kinds of lexical cohesion are reiteration and collocation. Reiteration can be generally realized by direct repetition or exploiting lexical relations through the use of synonym or near-synonym, superordinate, hyponym and related word. Collocation which indicates a relation of probable co-occurrence of items can be realized through the use of antonyms or words with close semantic relations.

2. Discourse analysis based on lexical cohesion theory

Sample:

Japan opens English class to adults

English conversation schools in Japan are offering more courses for the middle-aged in an attempt to carve out a new market for people with relatively more time and money. Japan Today has reported.

①According to the Japanese government data, the gross turnover of Japans English conversation schools, compared with that of 2006, decreased in 2007 when the former largest language school chain Nova went bankrupt. As a result, a growing number of English conversation schools are putting more emphasis on attracting middle-aged people. Considering that many set off on trips abroad upon reaching retirement age, English conversation schools in Japan aim to give them the skills to communicate.

②A 55-year-old woman in Tokyo started taking an English conversation course last November after retirement. “I was able to speak English when I was young,” she said. “But Ive forgotten quite a bit. I thought I should study once again”. However, she was reluctant to study in a group of younger students because it made her feel embarrassed, so she attended a special course for the middle-aged. “Thanks to the lessons, I dont feel nervous,” she said.

Analysis:

Reiteration:

(1) Direct repetition: In the leads and paragraph ①, the phrase “English conversation school” existed for four times. “Middle aged” and “middle aged people” existed for two times respectively in leads, paragraph ①, ②. These uses could achieve textual coherence and avoid semantic confusion.

(2) Lexical relations.

Synonyms and near synonyms: “Language school” in paragraph ① and “English conversation school”; “middle aged ” and “middle aged people”; “course” and “lessons” in paragraph ②. Such uses semantically complement each other and enrich the expressiveness of the article.

Superordinate and hyponym: “Adults” in the title is a superordinate of the “middle aged” or “middle aged people”. But here in this article, “adults” are used to refer to this certain group of people.

Collocation:

(1) Lexical chain: In the leads, the word “schools” co-occurs with “courses”; in paragraph ①, “census” co-occurs with “number and percent”; in paragraph ②,“course” co-occurs with “study, students, lessons, textbooks, letters and pictures”.

(2) Antonym: The phrase “middle aged” and “younger students” in paragraph ② can be treated as a pair of antonyms which makes the contrast of these two groups of people more evident.

3. Conclusion

This paper discussed the application of lexical cohesive devices in journalistic English. With fluent handling of lexical cohesion and its devices, we may do better in reading English newspapers or journalists. Whats more, if students can realize the importance of such devices and use them with awareness, their writing will be more flexible and vivid.

Bibliography

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