Abstract

The concept of cohesion and coherence, is one of the hottest topics in the academic question of Linguistic. This dissertation firstly attempts to sum up a systematic discussion of the different viewpoints of relationship between cohesion and coherence, then sets out to illustrate the useful suggestions of the usage of cohesion and coherence in English. In order to produce the best understandings of the inaugural speeches of the America presidents. To select the inaugural addresses as the examples to study the functions of cohesion in the discourse, and puts out the problems and development trends of this aspect at last.

Key words : Cohesion; Coherence; Presidents', Inaugural Speeches

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1.Introduction.1

2.Literature Review.1

2.1 Definition of Cohesion and Coherence1

2.1.1 Muti-level Understandings 2

2.1.2 Relationship Between Cohesion and Coherence.4

2.2 Classification of Cohesion and Coherence6

3.The Study on Cohesion and Coherence8

3.1 The Concept of Study8

3.2 American Presidents’ Inaugural Addresses.9

3.3 The Methodology and Research Questions9

3.4 The Specific Case Analysis10

3.4.1 Lexical Cohesion.10

3.4.2 Grammatical Cohesion16

4. The Finding of Discussion on Cohesion and Coherence.18

4.1 The Significance of  This Study18

4.2 The Development Tends and Existing Problems19

4.2.1 The Concept is not Theoretical .19

4.2.2 The Part-whole Relationship is not Clear19

4.2.3 The Whole Theoretical Framework is not Formed20

4.2.4 The Degree of Specificity is not Enough.20

4.3 Limitations and Suggestion of  This Study.21

5. Conclusion21

Reference.23