Errors by ESL writers involving connectives show a need for changes in the current teaching approach of composition teachers, an approach which reflects a lack of attention to the discourse function of connectives on the part of linguists and rhetoricians. More recent studies in text and functional grammars reveal that factors other than syntax control conjunctive use. These include pragmatic differences between spoken and written language, the role of semantics in defining dependency, and discourse functions of connectives. Conjunction is seen as part of a continuum of semantic dependency that is manifested as degrees of syntactic complexity. Teaching methods should take into account semantic and pragmatic factors and encourage learning of connectives through activities such as revision of student writing for content as well as mechanics.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc504148 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Leavelle, Cynthia A. (Cynthia Ann) |
| Contributors | Hardy, Heather K. (Heather Kay), 1952-, Crow, John T., Hughes, Robert L. |
| Publisher | North Texas State University |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | ii, 147 leaves, Text |
| Rights | Public, Leavelle, Cynthia A. (Cynthia Ann), Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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