An analysis of lexical cohesion in document of the textbook of English for geology

An analysis of lexical cohesion in document of
the textbook of English for geology

Nguyễn Thị Miền

University of Languages and International Studies
M.A. Thesis English Linguistics, Code: 60 22 15
Supervisor : Đặng Ngọc Sinh, MA
Year of graduation: 2011

Abstract: This dissertation provides some typical issues around English. In taking
this approach, two small aspects of language concerned in this study are English
for Specific Purposes(ESP) and Functional Grammar(FG). On the one hand, ESP
supports readers to get reading comprehension skill; on the other hand, FG is one
branch of Grammar in which Lexical Cohesive Devices(LCD) play a significant
role in making the text in both cohesion and coherence. It is these interesting
features that the writer decided to pick out this research with the hope that it would
be useful for both the job of teachers and the study of students. To clarify the
study, the qualitative and quantitative methods were used regularly. In the first
part providing the theory related to the thesis and the conclusion, the qualitative
one was applied a lot. Besides, the methods of description, analysis and statistic in
linguistics with quantitative one are pretty popular in chapter 2 and chapter 3.
Based on most of references found, all the necessary theory gradually worked out.
Moreover, to make the research reliable and persuasive, doing statistics of the data
in survey questionnaires gave the summary as the hypothesis. The analysis and
findings of the research are the most prominent parts; and the principal theoretical
outcomes of the work are as follows: First, the study shows that EG is one branch
of ESP which is a useful subject like English. Secondly, this dissertation also
exploits the distinction between cohesion and coherence. Third, the thesis
indicates the overview of Cohesive Devices including LCD. Fourth, the writer
claims the existence of LCD and the role of LCD in the texts. Fifth, some major

problems in both teaching and studying EG are raised based on the analysis of
survey questionnaires Finally, focusing the study on problems, the obvious
findings are stated and led to some suggestions. As a result, although the scope of
the study is not large, it partly raises some ways to make EG more interesting and
worth-studying, some useful solutions for teachers to work more effectively and
students more interested in studying both English and EG. In short, the findings
indicate that not only textbook but also teaching and learning activities could be
enhanced better and better when they make use of. Lexical Cohesive Devices
according to FG. It is obvious that FG features including Cohesive Devices play
an important role in studying English.
Keywords: Tiếng Anh; Từ vựng; Địa chất
Content
This dissertation provides some typical issues around English. In taking this
approach, two small aspects of language concerned in this study are English for
Specific Purposes(ESP) and Functional Grammar(FG). It is said that this study is a
combination of the Geology in English and analysis based on theory of FG. On the
one hand, ESP supports readers to get reading comprehension skill; on the other
hand, FG is one branch of Grammar in which Lexical Cohesive Devices(LCD)
play a significant role in making the text in both cohesion and coherence. It is
these interesting features that the writer decided to pick out this research with the
hope that it would be useful for both the job of teachers and the study of students.
To clarify the study, the qualitative and quantitative methods were used regularly.
In the first part providing the theory related to the thesis and the conclusion, the
qualitative one was applied a lot. Besides, the methods of description, analysis and
statistic in linguistics with quantitative one are pretty popular in chapter 2 and
chapter 3.
Based on most of references found, all the necessary theory gradually
worked out. Moreover, to make the research reliable and persuasive, doing
statistics of the data in survey questionnaires gave the summary as the hypothesis.
The analysis and findings of the research are the most prominent parts; and the

principal theoretical outcomes of the work are as follows: First, the study shows
that EG is one branch of ESP which is a useful subject like English. Secondly, this
dissertation also exploits the distinction between cohesion and coherence. Third,
the thesis indicates the overview of Cohesive Devices including LCD. Fourth, the
writer claims the existence of LCD and the role of LCD in the texts. Fifth, some
major problems in both teaching and studying EG are raised based on the analysis
of survey questionnaires Finally, focusing the study on problems, the obvious
findings are stated and led to some suggestions.
As a result, although the scope of the study is not large, it partly raises
some ways to make EG more interesting and worth-studying, some useful
solutions for teachers to work more effectively and students more interested in
studying both English and EG. In short, the findings indicate that not only
textbook but also teaching and learning activities could be enhanced better and
better when they make use of
Lexical Cohesive Devices according to FG. It is obvious that FG features
including Cohesive Devices play an important role in studying English.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
This dissertation emphasizes the LCD as one prominent feature of FG
which are really worthfocusing when they are put in ESP texts. It is reasonable
that this study will cover a number of concepts (ESP, EG, Cohesion, Coherence,
Cohesive Devices, LCD) within the single constrained knowledge. This work
established clearly-defined links between linguistics and science. Moreover, since
the geological advances which make it possible to do this owe a great deal to this
work, the transition from generative grammar to functional grammar can be
comparatively straightforward one. Although the author has not attempted to deal
exhaustedly with all the problems of teaching and studying EG, the current work
covers those issues which partly contribute to enhance the present situation.
Being aware of the necessity of studying EG in Department of Mineral Resources,

Faculty of Geology, University of Mining & Geology(DMR, FG of UMG) , EG is
arranged to be a compulsory subject, however, it seems to be nightmare to most of
students due to many reasons which are from the different aspects like materials,
textbook designs, syllabi, facilities, ect. Encountering the same situation,
University of Mining & Geology also expects the suitable method to help students
study effectively and apply on the future jobs flexibly.
2. Scope of the study
Due to the limited time and scope of a minor M.A thesis, this study only analyzes
Lexical Cohesive Devices in some texts from the ESP textbook in DMR, FG of
UMG. Therefore, it is reasonable to cover only enough number of typical texts to
make the study reliable. In order to be reliable, two survey questionnaires were
handed out to five English teachers and fifty forth year students studying in DMR,
FG of UMG.
3. Aims of the study
The aims of this study are to work out the following features:
1. Overview of the ESP and EG.
2. Clarification of Cohesion and Coherence.
3. Main types of Cohesion.
4. Analysis in “ESP textbook in department of mineral resources”.
5. Statistics of questionnaires to work out the findings.
6. Problems in teaching and studying EG based on the findings.
7. Implications for teaching EG effectively and some suggestions for further
study.
4. Methods of the study
In order to catch up with the targets of this study, it is indispensable to
apply the appropriate methods which are both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. To the detail, the methods of description, statistics and analysis are
applied flexibly by handing out the survey questionnaires, analyzing them and
collecting the data from both nine typical texts and two survey questionnaires.
In this study, with a view to examine the material currently used at DMR, FG of

UMG in relation to the course requirements, much attention is paid to the analysis
of the syllabus and the material itself. These analyses were based on Hutchinson
and Waters’ criteria on material evaluation (1987) and Halliday and Hasan’s
features on lexical cohesive devices used in material.
5. Design of the study
This study is divided into three main parts:
Part A: Introduction
The first part mentions the rationale, aims, scope, methods and design of
the study.
Part B: Development
This part also consists of three smaller parts which are labeled by each
chapter.
Chapter 1 goes over the theoretical background of the research containing two
significant terms:
(1) Overview of ESP and EG
(2) Cohesion and Coherence
Chapter 2 puts across lexical cohesive devices in the chosen texts of EG from the
ESP textbook at Department of Mineral Resources, Faculty of Geology,
University of Mining & Geology.
Chapter 3 indicates some major findings of studying EG and suggests some
meaningful implications to reform teaching and studying ESP, especially EG more
effectively.
Part C: Conclusion.
The last part shows the summary and touches on the further study
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 1: theoretical background
This chapter sets out in detail all the knowledge which is foundational to
the whole work related to the title consisting of concepts of ESP, EG, cohesion,
coherence, lexical cohesive devices.
Chapter 2: Lexical cohesive devices analyzed in “Esp textbook in department of

mineral resources”.
The first part of this chapter reports the description of EG in general before
coming into the specification of cohesion used in texts. The second parts showed
the frame of each unit. To the detail, in the main part, the writer pays attention to
analyze two major categories of lexical cohesive devices: reiteration and
collocation in the lights of occurence and analysis.
Chapter 3: Major findings and implications for teaching
eg effectively
Basing on several difficulties of the students analyzed in the findings,
basing on the opinions about the solutions of the English teachers at DMR, FG of
UMG and on the author’s study on theory of teaching and learning, some
suggestions to overcome these difficulties will be presented.
This chapter also has made some suggestions to reduce difficulties that the
students at DMR, FG of UMG encounter when learning EG. It is really not easy
to overcome these difficulties, thus, in order to improve the situation, students
must work very hard and have appropriate learning methods. Besides, they must
be flexible and adaptable to improve language skills.
PART 3: CONCLUSION
EG seems to be difficult for most students to understand absolutely. It challenges
teachers to find the most suitable way to teach EG well and students to seek the
most effective way to study EG. It will, however, take time, money, and a
combined effort on the part of many people consisting of teachers, students, and
designers of the textbook. It is the reason why this minor thesis is done with
expectation that the author can give contribution to
- Provide an overview of lexical cohesive devices with their usage in the EG texts,
and theory of both ESP and EG. Then teachers can pick up some appropriate to
teach well and students can be aware of them and eager to learn EG.
- Analyse LCD to point out the most important devices in texts which play a vital
role in making texts coherence, it is said that Repetition and Collocation are two
most used devices in the lexical cohesion. Based on these devices, teachers apply

them as tools to teach EG more effectively, otherwise, students recognize what to
focus on and feel studying EG easier.
- Show some typical difficulties that teachers and students have to encounter and
suggest some useful ways in both teaching and studying with the hope that they
will overcome and choose the better ways to follow. As a result, teachers,
certainly, teach better and better, while students study more and more interestedly
even more and more effectively. In the end, the author raises some suggestions for
further study.


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