Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 3(4), pp. 131 - 147
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2015.030402
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Cohesion: Structuring Content Through Textual Features in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) Formal Discourse

Jefwa G. Mweri ^*
Department of Kiswahili & Kenyan Sign Language Research Project, Faculty of Arts University of Nairobi, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Content in formal or planned discourse can be "structured through the content of its proposition" - that is through the use of an organizational structure that denotes planned discourse. This paper discusses a lecture delivered in KSL by a deaf person. The lecture under analysis was divided into episodes or in some form of schema that included focal, developmental and closing episodes. This organizational structure though contributing to cohesion in the lecture is not the focus of this paper. The focus of this paper is to examine how cohesion in formal KSL discourse is structurally achieved though textual features that reflect transition boundaries between episodes and link episodes together" (Roy 1989). Cohesion in discourse refers to the links and connections that unite the elements of a discourse or text. It is the links that hold a text together to give it meaning. These connections involve lexical and grammatical devices. To be able to achieve their informational, social functions, lectures, use different cohesive devices. Those discussed in the paper to show their cohesive nature include: New topic transition markers, Signalers that introduce new items in the time series, Chronological signalers, Signalers that express relations between facts, Signalers that introduce items in the same series, Quantity signalers, Signalers that introduce example or particularization of what has just been said and Signalers that indicate a restatement of what has just been said (repetition).

KEYWORDS
Structuring Content through Textual Features in KSL

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Jefwa G. Mweri , "Cohesion: Structuring Content Through Textual Features in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) Formal Discourse," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 131 - 147, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2015.030402.

(b). APA Format:
Jefwa G. Mweri (2015). Cohesion: Structuring Content Through Textual Features in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) Formal Discourse. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 3(4), 131 - 147. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2015.030402.