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What is a Lexical Cohesion?
Grade Level:
Class 3
NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication
Definition
What is it?
Lexical cohesion is how words in a text connect to each other to create meaning and make the text flow smoothly. It's like a hidden thread that links different parts of a sentence or paragraph using related words. This connection helps readers understand the main idea and how everything fits together.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine you're reading about a cricket match. One sentence says, 'Rohit Sharma hit a massive six.' The next sentence might say, 'The batsman celebrated his boundary.' Here, 'Rohit Sharma' and 'the batsman' refer to the same person, and 'six' and 'boundary' are related cricket terms. This linking of words is lexical cohesion.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's find lexical cohesion in this short paragraph:
'My neighbour bought a new car. The vehicle is red and shiny. He drives the automobile to work every day.'
1. Identify the main subject in the first sentence: 'car'.
---2. Look at the second sentence: 'The vehicle is red and shiny.' Notice 'vehicle' refers to the 'car'. This is a connection.
---3. Look at the third sentence: 'He drives the automobile to work every day.' Here, 'automobile' also refers to the 'car'.
---4. The words 'car', 'vehicle', and 'automobile' are all synonyms or related terms for the same object.
---ANSWER: The lexical cohesion is created by the repetition and use of synonyms for 'car' ('vehicle', 'automobile').
Why It Matters
Understanding lexical cohesion helps you write clear, well-structured stories and essays, which is key for good marks in English. It's crucial for journalists who need to write engaging news reports and for lawyers who must draft precise legal documents. Even in everyday communication, it helps ensure your message is understood clearly.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Repeating the exact same word too many times, making the writing boring. | CORRECTION: Use synonyms or related terms to keep the writing interesting while maintaining cohesion.
MISTAKE: Using unrelated words to refer to the same thing, confusing the reader. | CORRECTION: Ensure the words you choose are clearly linked in meaning to the original concept or object.
MISTAKE: Thinking lexical cohesion only means repeating words. | CORRECTION: Remember it also includes using synonyms, antonyms, general words (like 'thing' for 'book'), and words from the same 'family' (like 'doctor' and 'hospital').
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: In the sentence, 'My dog loves to play. The pet chases its tail often.' What words show lexical cohesion? | ANSWER: dog, pet
QUESTION: Read: 'The chef prepared a delicious meal. The food was served hot. Everyone enjoyed the dish.' Identify all the words that show lexical cohesion related to 'meal'. | ANSWER: meal, food, dish
QUESTION: Identify the lexical cohesion in this passage: 'The train arrived late. Passengers were frustrated. The railway staff apologized for the delay of the locomotive.' | ANSWER: train, passengers (related to train travel), railway staff (related to train travel), locomotive (synonym for train)
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which pair of words shows lexical cohesion?
Mango, blue
Student, school
Run, quickly
Big, small
The Correct Answer Is:
B
Option B, 'Student, school,' shows lexical cohesion because a student is closely associated with a school. The other options are either unrelated (Mango, blue), an adverb modifying a verb (Run, quickly), or antonyms (Big, small) which can also be a type of cohesion, but 'student, school' is a clear example of related vocabulary.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
When you read news articles on your phone or tablet, journalists carefully use lexical cohesion to make sure the story flows well and you understand who or what they are talking about, even if they use different words. For example, an article about a new 'smartwatch' might later refer to it as 'the wearable device' or 'the gadget' to avoid repetition and keep you engaged.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
SYNONYM: A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language. | ANTONYM: A word opposite in meaning to another. | REPETITION: The action of repeating something that has already been said or written. | COHESION: The action or fact of forming a united whole. | LEXICAL FIELD: A group of words that are related in meaning.
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Next, you can learn about 'grammatical cohesion,' which is how grammar, like pronouns and conjunctions, helps connect sentences. Understanding both lexical and grammatical cohesion will make you a master at writing clear and engaging English!
