A comparative study of cohesion in English and Vietnamese texts

Abstract

This study aims at comparing English and Vietnamese cohesion with the hope that it may contribute to the teaching and learning of English in Vietnam. It is hoped that the results of the study may help the teacher and student· to become more aware of cohesive devices in English texts and thus make better use of them in the teaching and learning of the English language. The study reveals that the two languages have several similar features in cohesion. It also points out the differences of cohesion in texts of the two languages. The first chapter is an introductory part in which background to the study, the aim of the study, the source of information, and the objectives and content of the study are presented. Chapter 2 deals with the theoretical background related to the study. Concepts such as text and cohesion are presented. Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 discuss the five cohesive relations in English and Vietnamese; that is. reference. substitution, ellipsis, conjunction, and lexical cohesion. In chapter 8, a comparison of English and Vietnamese cohesion based on the analysis in chapters 3. 4, 5, 6 and 7 is made. As well as this, it looks at common errors in the use of cohesive devices made in the English writing of Vietnamese students at the University of Canberra. In the last section, the conclusion, the author tries to offer some implications based on the results of the previous sections and on the author’s experience of teaching and learning foreign languages. It is hoped that the implications may be of significance to Vietnamese teachers and students of English. And furthermore, that the analysis of cohesion in Vietnamese may be beneficial to foreign students learning Vietnamese as a foreign language.

Date of Award	1992
Original language	English