Coherence and cohesion are two fundamental mechanisms for text production.
Cohesion is the mechanism related to elements that ensure the connection between words and sentences, in order to interconnect the different parts of a text.
Coherence, in turn, is responsible for establishing the logical connection between ideas, so that together they guarantee that the text has meaning.
Both are important to ensure that a text conveys its message clearly, is harmonious and makes sense to the reader.
What is textual cohesion?
The meaning of cohesion is related to linguistic mechanisms of the text, which are responsible for establishing a connection of ideas.
Cohesion creates relationships between parts of the text in order to guide the reader through a sequence of facts.
A cohesive message presents harmonious connections between parts of the text.
Textual cohesion elements and example sentences
See below the main elements of textual cohesion and how they are applied in sentences.
Substitutions
They guarantee lexical cohesion. They occur when a term is replaced by another term or by a phrase in order to avoid repetition.
correct cohesion: Vegetables are important to maintain a healthy diet. Fruits too.
Cohesion error: Vegetables are important to maintain a healthy diet. Fruits are also important to maintain a healthy diet.
Explanation: "also" replaces "are important to maintain a healthy diet".
Connectors
These elements are responsible for the interphrasing cohesion of the text. They create dependency relationships between terms and are usually represented by prepositions, conjunctions, adverbs, etc.
correct cohesion: They like to play ball and dance.
Cohesion error: They like to play ball. They like to dance.
Explanation: without the connective "and", we would have a repetitive sequence.
References and reiterations
In this type of cohesion, one term is used to refer to another, to reiterate something said earlier, or when one word is replaced by another with binding meanings.
correct cohesion: Today is my neighbor's birthday. She is turning 35 years old.
Cohesion error: Today is my neighbor's birthday. My neighbor is turning 35 years old.
Explanation: note that the pronoun "she" refers to the neighbor.
verbal correlation
It is the use of verbs in the correct tenses. This kind of cohesion ensures that the text follows a logical sequence of events.
correct cohesion: If I knew I would let you know.
Cohesion error: If I knew I'll let you know.
Explanation: note that "know" is an inflection of the verb "know" in the imperfect past tense of the subjunctive and this indicates a conditional situation that could give rise to another action.
For the phrase to make sense, the verb "to warn" has to be conjugated in the future past tense to indicate a fact that could have happened if an action in the past had taken place.
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What is textual coherence?
THE textual coherence it is directly related to the significance and interpretability of a text.
The message of a text is coherent when it makes sense and is communicated in a harmonious way, so that there is a logical relationship between the ideas presented, where one complements the other.
To ensure the consistency of a text, it is necessary to take into account some basic concepts.
Concepts of textual coherence and example sentences
See below for the main concepts of textual coherence and how they are applied in sentences.
Principle of non-contradiction
There can be no contradictions of ideas between different parts of the text.
correct consistency: He only buys soy milk as he is lactose intolerant.
coherence error: He only buys cow's milk as he is lactose intolerant.
Explanation: those who are lactose intolerant cannot consume cow's milk. For this reason, the second example constitutes a coherence error; does not make sense.
Principle of non-tautology
Even if they are expressed through the use of different words, ideas should not be repeated, as this compromises the understanding of the message to be issued and often makes it redundant.
correct consistency: I visited Rome five years ago.
coherence error: I visited Rome five years ago.
Explanation: "ha" already indicates that the action occurred in the past. The use of the word "behind" also indicates that the action occurred in the past, but it adds no value and makes the phrase redundant.
Relevance principle
The ideas must be related to each other, they must not be fragmented and they must be necessary to the meaning of the message.
The ordering of ideas must be correct, otherwise, even if they present meaning when analyzed in isolation, the comprehension of the text as a whole may be compromised.
correct consistency: The man was very hungry, but he had no money in his wallet, so he went to the bank and took out a certain amount to use. Then he went to a restaurant and had lunch.
coherence error: The man was very hungry, but he had no money in his wallet. He went to a restaurant for lunch and then went to the bank and took out a certain amount to use.
Explanation: Note that although the sentences make sense in isolation, the order in which the information is presented makes the message confusing. If the man didn't have money, it doesn't make sense that he went to the restaurant first and then went to get money.
Thematic continuity
This concept ensures that the text follows within the same subject. When thematic continuity fails, the reader is left with the feeling that the subject has suddenly changed.
correct consistency: "I had a lot of difficulty getting the course I wanted to do. First I went to take a computer course... Halfway through the semester I switched to a drawing course and finally ended up enrolling here in the English course. Was it that confusing for you too?"
"Actually it was easy as I had already decided some time ago that as soon as I had the opportunity to pay for a course I would take one in English."
coherence error: "I had a lot of difficulty getting the course I wanted to do. First I went to take a computer course... Halfway through the semester I switched to a drawing course and finally ended up enrolling here in the English course. Was it that confusing for you too?"
"When I enrolled here in the course, I tried to get informed about the methodology, the type of resources used, etc. and I ended up quickly deciding on this course."
Explanation: note that in the last example, the second interlocutor ends up not responding exactly to what was asked.
The first interlocutor asks if he also had difficulties in deciding what type of course to take and the The answer was about the characteristics he took into account when choosing the English course where he enrolled.
Despite having spoken of a course, there was a change of subject.
semantic progression
It is the guarantee of inserting new information in the text, to follow up on a whole. When this does not happen, the reader is left with the feeling that the text is too long and that it never reaches the final objective of the message.
correct consistency: The boys walked and when they came across the suspect quickened their pace. When they noticed that they were being chased, they began to run.
coherence error: The boys walked and when they came across the suspect they continued walking a little longer. They passed through several avenues and alleys and kept going straight ahead. When they noticed that they were being pursued, they continued walking towards their destination, they traveled a long way...
Explanation: note that the sentence where the coherence is correct presents a sequence of new information that direct the reader to the conclusion of the sentence's conclusion.
In the following example, the sentence ends up being too long and the recipient of the message does not know, after all, what the boys are doing.
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Difference between cohesion and coherence
Cohesion and coherence are essential points to ensure the understanding of textuality.
Cohesion is more directly linked to elements that help to establish a link between words and phrases that unite the different parts of a text.
Coherence, in turn, establishes a logical connection between the ideas, so that they complement each other and, together, ensure that the text makes sense.
In other words, coherence is more directly linked to the meaning of the message.
Although the two concepts are related, they are independent, that is, one does not depend on the other to exist.
It is possible, for example, for a message to be cohesive and incoherent or coherent and lack cohesion. See the cases below:
Example of a cohesive and incoherent message:
"Open every day except Saturday."
(The message has a harmonious connection between the sentences, but it doesn't make sense: if there is an exception, then the establishment is not open every day.)
Example of coherent message that lacks cohesion:
"Stop messing with that ink. Go to the bathroom now! Don't touch anything. Wash your hands thoroughly. Go to your bedroom."
(The message is understandable, but there is no harmonious link between the ideas. The links between sentences are missing for the message to sound natural.)