TEXT AS CONNECTED DISCOURSE

At the end of the lesson, students

should be able to:
a.Discuss text as connected discourse;
b.Identify transitional devices in the given
text; and
c.Construct a short paragraph with the
use of transitional devices.
“Text” and “Discourse”
Text – Derived from the Latin word texere,
which means to weave or to form.

Discourse – comes from the Latin word

discursus, which denotes conversation
speech.
 Text and discourse have several
definitions.

Here are some of its meanings from

varied sources:
Merriam-Webster
• Text – a piece of writing or speech or the main
body of a printed or written matter on a page.

• Discourse – defined as the use of words to

exchange thoughts and ideas. It is also defined as
long talk or piece of writing about a subject.
Cook (1989:158)
• Text – a stretch of language interpreted
formally without context.

• Discourse – a stretch of language perceived

to be meaningful, unified and purposive.
Text vs Discourse
- the text refers to a written or spoken piece of
language.

- while discourse refers to language in use, including the

context and purpose of the communication as well as
the relationships between speakers or writers and their
audience.
Connected Discourse

(or connected speech in linguistics)

- is a continuous sequence of sounds
forming utterances or conversation in
spoken language.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TEXT AS
CONNECTED DISCOURSE?
A text is a connected discourse, which
means that all ideas in the text must be
related in the sense that they would express
only one main idea, or that the text must
have unity by combining all ideas to
emphasize central idea.
Coherence
- is the unifying element in a text and discourse. It
is about how ideas in a sentence are arranged and
are connected so that the information or points are
properly understood.

The absence of coherence in a discourse forces

the reader to stop and read back, or the listener
to stop and clarify.
Please speak softly so that John
may hear you.
• Please speak softly or John may hear you.

• Please speak softly so that John may not hear you.

• Please speak softly for John may hear you.

Transitional words and phrases to
show relationships
•Transitional words and phrases signal the
relationship between words in the
sentences.

•Simple connectives such as for, and, nor,

but, or, yet, so make the flow of the ideas
in a sentence or paragraph smooth.
Here are some useful transition that you can
use in your writing:
1. To give examples: for example, for instance, in fact, indeed, to illustrate

2. To compare: also, likewise, similarly, in the same way, at the same time

3. To contrast: although, and yet, at the same time, but, despite, even
though, nevertheless, in contrary, even though, on the other hand

4. To show addition: and, also, again, in addition, furthermore, moreover

5. To show place or duration: above, below, beneath,
beyond, farther, here

6. To summarize: in other words, in short, in summary, to

sum up, all in all

7. To show time: after, before, during, finally, afterward, next,

since, then, until, while, immediately, later, as soon as, finally

8. To indicate logical relationship: because, therefore, thus,

for this reason, hence, if, otherwise, as a result, accordingly