Analysis of
lexical
Chains and
Coherence in
a Children's
and News
Story
Marcelino Torrecilla N.
HUNOERTWASSER,
F. C<=Ssnr>gfBnIes. 1952 (Frilgrreflto)
MARCEtlNO
TORRECIllA
N.
MA UNIV¡:RSITYOf lIVER?OOl, PROfESOR DE lA UNIVERSIDAD DEL NORTE Y
lAUNIVERSlOAD
DEL ATlÁNTICO
(matorrec@yahoo,Com)

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-
z
Este articulo tiene como objetivo
w
:;¡
encontrar cadenas lexicales en dos
::>
V>
textos,
un cuento infantil y una
w
a:
noticia, y ver como dichos textos
crean coherencia. En este estudio
las cadenas fueron seleccionadas
bajo el criterio de que sus
miembros estuvieran
semántica mente relacionados por
medio de sinonimia, antonimia,
hiponimia,
meronimia y repetición.
Bajo esta sistema de análisis, la
coherencia se encontró
algo
debilitada
en partes de los dos
textos. Esto corroborarfa el hecho
de que la presencia de cadenas
lexicales no siempre hacen que los
textos sean coherentes. Otros
descubrimientos
interesantes
muestran la dependencia
de los
t
This artide aims to find lexical
textos ya sea en referencias
chains in two texts, a children's
lexicales o gramaticales.
~ and news story, and see how they
PALABRAS
CLAVE:
Cadenas lexicales,
~ make for coherence. In the study
<
Cohesión, Coherencia, Sinonimia,
chains were selected under the
Antonimia, Hiponimia,
Meronimia,
criterion that their members were
Repetición
semantically related by Synonymy,
Antonymy, Hyponymy ,
Meronymy and Repetition.
Under this analysis framework, it
was found coherence to be a
somewhat flawed in parts of both
texts. This would attest to the fact
that the presence of lexical chains
does not always make texts
coherent. Other interesting
findings show reliance of the texts
on either lexical or grammatical
references.
o
o
N
'EY
WOROS:
Lexical Chains,
<
>
Cohesion, Coherence, Synonymy,
Antonymy, Hyponymy,
Meronymy, Repetition.

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1 Introduction
2 Relevant theories
In this research lexical chains will be
I shall first start by setting out a
looked at and how these make for
theoretical explanation as regards
coherence in two texts. Text 1 is a
coherence, cohesion and lexical
children's story entitled
chains.
«5eagull and the coming of Iight». Text
two is a news story entitled
2.1 COHERENCE ANO COHESION
«Corruption charges against billionaire
brothers over Indian arms dea/».
Coherence is a mental process that
The presence of lexical chains
takes place in the reader's or listener's
should be linguistic evidence that texts
mind and not a factor related to the
are not constructed
in a disorganised
physical text or the oral interaction.
manner and that the chains constitute
Gernsbacher and Givon (1995) assert
a valuable resource that contributes to
that:
the structuring and coherence of texts.
However, it is also true that the
Coherence is not an inherent
presence of lexical chains does not
property
of a written or spoken
necessarily mean that texts are
text, Readers and Iisteners can
coherent, which makes this
indeedjudge
with high
phenomenon
a complex issue. The
agreement
that one text is more
analyses of the above-mentioned
texts
coherent than another. But neither
will provide the opportunity
to
the words on the page nor the
discover the lexical chains they are
words in the speech confer
expected to have and see whether
coherence. (Gernsbacher
and
these chains show that the texts are
Givon ,1995: vii)
coherent.
I shall start by presenting relevant
when someone reads or listens to
theories that will enable me to set out
a coherent text some assumptions are
the basis for the analyses and
tacitly established between reader/
discussions. I shall then present the
writer and listener / speaker.
materials and methods section in
Gernsbacher and Givon (1995)
which analysis procedures, texts
illustrate this by pointing out that:
description and rationale for text
choice will be explained. Afterwards I
a coherently produced text -
shall proceed to look at the results
spoken or written-allows
the
describing each chain in terms of type
«receiver» (reader or Iistener) to
of chain and relation of its members.
form roughly the same text-
Discussion of results will ensue where
representation
as the «sender»
I shall analyse the results in more
(writer or speaker) had in mind.
depth. Finally a conclusion will
(Gernsbacher and Givon ,1995:
summarise the main aspects of the
vii)
resea rch work.
40
ZONA
PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 38-61

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«words on the page» as stated by
contribute
to the coherence
of a tex!?
Gerl'lsbacher and Givon have more to
Hoey (1996)
states that:
do with cohesion. A kind of relation
must exist between them to convey
...cohesion is oQjective, capable in
coherence. As far as cohesion is
principie
of automatic
recognition,
concerned, Baker (1992)
defines this
while coherence
is subjective and
phenomenon
as:
judgements
conceming
it may
vary from reader to reader if
...the network of lexical,
cohesion and
coherence are
grammatical
and other relations
distinguished
in this manner,
which provide links between
question
1 becomes a question
various parts of a texto These
about how the presence of a
relations or ties organise and, to
cohesive tie predisposes
a reader
some extent create a text ... (Baker,
to find a text coherent. (Hoey,
1992: 1BO)
1996:12)
In reference to reading, it could be
A coherent text is made up of
stated that cohesion is more related to
elements that interact with each other
the physical written language, that is
to convey meaning across a texto
the words that the reader can see on
Hasan (1984:
181) refers to
a surface, while coherence
is rnore
coherence as «the property of 'unity'
con cerned with how the reader
of 'hanging together'». This feature is
discerns such written language.
evidenced in example 1 below.
In clarifying these two issues Baker
However, it is not present in example
(1992)
states that:
.
2.
In example
1 there is a connection
In the case of cohesion, stretches
between a little girl and she. She
of language are connected to
refers to the same little girl. This is
each other by virtue of lexical and
also the case with a lovely little teddy
grammatical
dependencies.
In the
bear and it and
home and home. In
case of coherence, they are
Hasan's terms example
1 «... has
connected
by virtue of conceptual
certain kinds of meaning
relations
or meaning
dependencles
as
between its parts that are not to be
perceived by language
users.
found in the second. It is these
(Baker, 1992: 218)
meaning
relations that are constitutive
of texture». (Hasan, 1985:71).
Texture
In answering question
l' How
is termed by other authors like
does the presence of cohesion
McCarthy as textuality. McCarthy,
(1991 :65) describes textuality as «that
property of text which distinguishes
it
• Out of two others related to coherence
and
from a random sequence of
cohesion.
unconnected
sentences».
ZONA PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 37-61
"

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Example
1
Example
2
Onces upon a time there was a
He got up on the buffalo
and
went out for a walk
§havebookeda seat
1
have put
.t
away in the cupboard
and
I
have not eaten
and when
Hasan (1985: 71)
Hasan (1985:
72)
Meaning relations in Hasan's example
described by Hasan (1985:73-74),
lall
1 are mostly realised by grammatical
into the categories 01: co-referentiality,
choices when a little girl is replaced
Co-classification
and Co-extension. In
by pronominal
she. Relations supplied
co-referentiality
relations the two
by lexical choices are realised by the
members 01 the tie reler to the same
repetition 01 home. This illustrates
thing or persono For instance in
how grammar and lexis work together
example 1 it relers to the same lovely
to build a texto
little bear previously mentioned.
At this point, it is worth stating that
In Co-c1assification relations the
our interest will be locused on the
two members 01 the tie are different.
lexical choices 01 two texts. Using
However, the process or
Hasan's example served the twolold
circumstances they are involved in is
purpose 01 showing coherence in a
the same. For example, when we say:
text and the interdependence
Ana lives in Peru. Pedro does too
between grammar and lexis.
the experience 01 living is shared
In what lollows, I shall provide a briel
by two different members 01 the tie:
description 01 different kinds 01
Ana and Pedro. The third type 01
semantic relations between members
relation is Co·extension in which the
01 ties that will include both
two members 01 the tie «reler to
grammatical and lexicallinks.
I shall
something within the same general
locus special attention on the latter.
field 01 meaning» (Hasan, 1985: 74).
In My sister likes apples and
2.2 RElATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEMBERS
bananas the two members
01 the tie
OF T1ES
(apples - bananas)
belong to fruit as
the same general field 01 meaning.
Ties play an important part in the
Relations that lall under <<thesame
construction 01 texture. In example 1
general lield 01 meaning» should be
above a little girl and she constitute a
put within boundaries; otherwise, we
tie. Home-home
constitute another tie.
could include words that do not
This involves two semantically related
belong in a tie connection.
In order to
elements as a requisite to lorm a tie.
mark boundaries around the concept
The relationship between ties, as
01 «general field 01 meaning» in
" ZONA PRÓXIMA N° 4 (2003) PAGS 38-61

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relation to co-extension ties Hasan
This means that if we talk about a
(1985:80)
puts them under the
spaniel
we will always be talking
following relations: SYNONYMY, ANTONYMY,
about a dogo However, if we talk about
HYPONYMY,
MERONYMY AND REPETITION.
a dog we will not be necessarily
talking about a spaniel.we
could be
As regards 5YNONYMY Hasan (1985)
talking about a German shepherd or a
states that:
terrier.
...the experiential
meaning
ofthe
MERONYMY involves a part related to
two lexical items is identical; this
a whole. In describing MERONYMY
does not mean that there is total
Singleton(2000)
explains that:
overlap of meanings,
simply that
50 far as one kind of meaning
this relation covers part-whole
goes, they 'mean the same:
connections.X is a meronym of Y if
(Hasan, 1985:80)
it can form the subject of the
sentence An X is a part of a Y. Y in
Examples like shut and close; aid
such a case is labelled a holonym
and help fall into a synonymous
of X. For example, finger is a
category.
meronym of hand and hand is a
ANTONYMY is described as «the
holonym of finger on the basis of
oppositeness of experiential meaning .
the way in which the two words
The members of our experiential tie
.feature in the sentence: A finf)er is
si/ver and golden are an example of
a par! of a hand.(Singleton,
this kind of meaning relaticin» (Hasan,
2000:74)
1985: 80).
As regards HYPONYMY, this involves
Book and page present a
the relation between a specific and a
meronymy relation. We could say that
more general word. Hyponymy is
page is part of book.
described by Singleton (2000)
as
follows:
REPETllQN
is viewed by Hoey
(1991)in
the followingterms:
the relation between more specific
(hyponymous)
terms (e.g .
..';t allows a speaker or writer to
spaniel) and less specific
say something
again in order that
(superordinate)
terms (e.g. dog) is
something
new may be added.
defined in terms of one-way rather
The simplest form of repetilion
is
than two-way entailment .Thus I
also the simplest kind of lexical
own a soaniel entai/s I own a dog,
relation, namely the link that may
but I own a dOf) does not entai/I
exist between
two tokens of a
OWI7 a soaniel. (Singleton,
type. (Hoey, 1991 :52)
2000:70)
ZONA
PRÓXIMA
N
4 (2003)
PAGS
Q
37-61

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Repetition can be seen in the
semantic and «such semantic relations
following extract from «Krishna 's Birth»,
form the basís for cohesion between
an Indian legend.
the messages of a text» (Hasan, 1985:
73).
Old King Ugrasena of Mathura had
two children, Prince Kamsa and
2.3 lEXICAl
CHAINS
PrincessDevaki. While King
Ugrasena was a good king, Prince
lexical words are likely to be found in
Kamsa was a ruthless tyrant. Now
a relation of co-extension. In this
Princess Devaki was to wed a
respect, Hasan (1985: 80) states that
nobleman
named VASUOEVA. Kamsa
«The two terms of a co-extensional tie
out of the love he bore for his
are typically línguistic units that we
síster decided to be the bride and
refer to as content words' or lexical
graom's charioteer for the day.
ítems'». These items are found in a
while Kamsa drave the chariot
relation of SYNONYMY, ANTONYMY, HYPONOMY,
bearing Devaki and VASUOEVA out of
MERONYMY ANO REPETlTION. The text below
the wedding hall, a voice from the
shows these relatíons except for
heavens boomed ínforming
ANTONYMY.
Kamsa that Devaki's eíghth child
would be his slayer.
THE most powerful earthquake to
strike India for more than half a
Relations of co-referentiality,
co-
century rocked the subcontinent
c1assification and co-extension are
on Fríday, killing more than 1,500
cohesive devices that play an
people as it toppled buildings and
important part in connecting the two
houses in India and Pakistan. The
members of a tie contributing to
final toll ís expected to rise even
texture (Hasan, 1985: 74) .lt could
further as rescuers search for
also be added that they contribute to
bodies buried under debris and
coherence of texts. It is worth
aftershocks are expected to rack
mentioning
that these relations are
the regíon for days.
earthquake
strike
India
---
--
ubcontinent
""'India_ _ PakistánI
I
I
aftershocks
region
Taken from Tho Da/Iy Te/egrap/J o( JBnuary26
2001
Example 3
44
ZONA PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 38-61

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In the extract above earthquake
...researeh suggests a link
and aftershoek
are co-hyponyms
between reiteration
using
of a super-ordinate that we could call
synonyms and the idea of 're-
«violent movements of the earth».
entering'
important
topie words
There is repetition with raeked and
into the discourse at a later stage,
raek and these enter in a synonymous
that is to say bringing them baek
relation with
strike and
toppled.
into focus, or foregraunding
them
India and Pakistan are geografically
again. (McCarthy, 1991 :66)
co-meronyms
of the subcontinent.
Words in the above extract joined by
2.3.1 Types of Chains
the arrows, solid and dotted lines
cohere lexically forming lexical chains
Regarding the sort of relations
through co-extension.
between members of chains, Hasan
(1985) c1assifies them as
A lexical chain is made up of
identity and similarity and states that:
elements that are semantically related
with each other usually through co-
The relation between the
extensional connections.
members
of an identity ehain is
The tables below show the chains
that of co-referenee:
every
formed in example 3:
member
of the ehain refers to the
same thing, event, or whatever. ..
Strike
India
Earthquake
(Hasan, 1985: 84)
Rocked
Subcontinent
Aftershocks
Toppled
India
As regards similarity chains, Hasan
Rack
Pakistan
(1985) describes its members as
Region
being
As shown in example 3 a member
...related to eaeh other either
by
of a chain may appear in the text and
eo-elassifieation
or co-
reappear somewhere else maintaining
extension ...with items {in the
a semantic link. McCarthy (1991)
ehain} that refer to non-identieal
states that:
members
of the same elass of
things, elients ete. or to members
Reiteration is not a ehanee event:
of non-identieal
,but related
writers and speakers make
classes of things, events ete.
conseious ehoiees whether to
(Ha san, 1985: 84)
repeat, or find a synonym or a
superordinate
(McCarthy, 1991:
Identity and similarity chains serve
66)
the purpose of giving the tex! ordering.
Georgakopoulou
and Goutsos (1999)
Referring to Jordan (1985) Mc
refer to this when they affirm that:
Carthy (1991 :66) affirms that:
ZONA PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 37-61

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identity and similarity chaini;
semantic relations
which establish
organise the whole of the text in
continuity
of sense. The main
different
ways: the former pro vide
value of cohesive markers seems
a backbone
of organísation
while
to be that they can be used to
the lalter exploít the text's lexical
facilitate and possibly control the
resources (Georgakopoulou
and
interpretation
of underlying
Goutsos, 1999: 111)
semantic relations. (Baker, 1992:
219)
It is worth adding that the
presence of cohesive devices in chains
Lexical chains can be seen as
does not always guarantee that the
indicators of cohesion in a texto
text is coherent. In what follows,
However, this does not mean that
Enkvist (1978b:
110-11) cited in
such a text is an indicator of
Baker (1992: 218-219)
provides an
coherence. The visible chaining effect
example of a cohesive text that shows
may signal that the text is connected
no coherence.
in some way without this meaning that
the text is good: it is quite possible to
I bought a ford .The car in which
have a text that displays chains with all
President Wilson rode down the
kinds of semantic relations (synonymy,
Champs Elysees was black. Black
hyponymy, meronymy)
along with
English has been widely discussed.
anaphoric references and good
The discussions between the
paragraph organisation and yet talk
presidents ended last week. A
about insane things. Such a text can
week has seven days. Every day I
be regarded as cohesive, but not
feed my cal. Cats have four legs.
coherent. How the lexis in a text is
The cat is on the mal. Mat has
connected is a feature that can be
three letters.
c1early seen. However, how such
lexical connections create coherence is
Example
quite a problematic
question.
Coherence is an abstract and intangi-
Despite the cohesive devices a
ble phenomenon
that depends on the
speaker of English would immediately
knowledge that the reader brings to
notice that this text lacks coherence.
the text and also on the text's
What then exactly makes for
contents.
If the reader is ignorant of
coherence and texture in a text?
certain genre' s text construction
This question is answered by
pattern and lexis s/he will find the text
Baker (1992)
by affirming that:
totally incoherent. In this case the text
will only make sense for those
...what actually gives texture to a
members of the community
who
stretch of language
is not the
share the knowledge to understand
presence of cohesive markers but
the contents of the texto The ignorant
our abilíty to recognise
underlying
reader attempting to understand will
46
ZONA PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 38-61

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not be able to establish a bridge with
discover how two texts belonging to
the texto
different genres constructed lexical
The relationship between
chains. It is worth stating that the
coherence and cohesion is then
study of more texts would have been
complex and many factors should be
desirable, as this would produce more
taken into account. It should remain a
objective findings.
huge problem for linguistics how we
Once the texts were selected
can work out coherence by following
sentences in both texts were
cohesive markers.
numbered in arder to refer to the
Determining the presence of
location of the members of the chain
'underlying semantic relations' in the
in the texts. The members that made
two texts 1will analyse, is of utmost
up a chain were arranged in separate
importance. More specifically, it will be
tables with the number of the
crucial to determine whether or not
sentence where they appear in the
the members in the lexical chains of
texts on the left-hand side.
the texts can be identified as having
Each table was alphabetically
semantic relations that pro mote
labelled. The analysis was developed
coherence.
I shall now present the
by first establishing a criterion on what
materials and methods that will enable
the lexical items needed to be
me to develop the analyses.
included in a chain. To meet this
criterion the items had to be
3
The study: Materials and
semantically related by SYNONYMY,
Methods
ANTONYMY,
HYPONYMY,
MERONYMY
or
REPETlTION.
The items were sorted and
The research question for this study is:
the chains started to be built. The
what are the lexical chains in two texts
words that met the criterion where
and how do they make for coherence?
highlighted in different colours and put
The two texts chosen to answer these
in tables.
questions were a children's story (Text
Finally, an overview of lexical
1) entitled «5eagull and the coming
words of both texts on pages 16 (Text
of Iight» from Nootka people of British
1, p. 48) and 19 (Text 2, p. 51) was
Columbia and rewritten by Dr.Wilhelm.
presented. This overview was aimed
This story was downloaded from the
to show the following aspects:
Internet and it can be accessed at
http://www.storyfest.com/tales.html.
lexical words in isolation
Text 2 was a news story taken from
Their position and proximity
The Electronic Telegraph of October
with each other
10, 2000 entitled «Gorruption charge
How they appear along both
against billionaire
brothers over /ndian
texts
arms dea/».
The rationale for the choice of the
The overview should also provide
two texts lay in the purpose to
the reader with a quick look to deter-
ZONA PRÓXIMA
N° 4 (2003)
PAGS 37-61
47

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Document Outline

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