Abstract:Language is the crystallization of the human history and culture. Logical cohesion is the key of discourse coherence. Cohesion is a part of the system of a language, which plays an important role in tying a text. In general, the logical relations of English and Chinese discourses are almost  the same because of the universality of human thoughts. However, due to the complexity of the logic areas and language differences, there is a big difference in logical cohesion between Chinese and English discourses. The potential for cohesion resides in the systematic resources of references, ellipsis and so on, that are built into the language itself. So cohesion has drawn attention from researchers at home and abroad and they have begun to make a detailed study on the differences between English and Chinese. Then, based on the theoretical framework put forward by Halliday and Hasan in “Cohesion in English”, this paper explores four different kinds of logical cohesive devices: additive, adversative, causal and temporal.

The paper consists of five chapters. Chapter One is the background and some basic knowledge about logical cohesion. In Chapter Two, previous studies and related theories are reviewed. Chapter Three makes a detailed analysis of logical cohesion. Chapter Four discusses differences in logical cohesion between Chinese and English discourses. In the last chapter, a final conclusion is made.

Key words: cohesion theory  logical cohesion  cohesion of discourses

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background Information-1

1.2 The Framework of the Paper-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-2

2.1 Foreign Researchers’ View on Cohesion-2

2.2 Domestic Studies of Cohesion-2

Chapter Three A Detailed Analysis of Logical Cohesion-4

3.1 Definition of Logical Cohesion-4

3.2 Classifications of Cohesion-4

3.2.1 Type of Cohesion in Logic-semantic Relations-4

3.2.2 Classification of Logical Cohesion-5

3.3 Logical Cohesion in the Discourses-6

3.3.1 Text-7

3.3.2 The Effects of Logical Cohesion-7

Chapter Four Differences in Logical Cohesion Between Chinese and English Discourses-9

4.1 Reasons for Differences Between Chinese and English Discourses-9

4.1.1 Differences in Thinking Way-9

4.1.2 The Differences of Logical Conjunctions-10

4.1.3 The Differences Between English and Chinese Discourses-11

4.2 Exemplification of the Logical Cohesion-11

4.2.1 Additive Logical Cohesion-11

4.2.2 Adversative Logical Cohesion-12

4.2.3 Causal Logical Cohesion-12

4.2.4 Temporal Logical Cohesion-13

Chapter Five Conclusion-14

References-15