The Semantics of Sentence Connectors in Reading Comprehension in Pakistani English Textbooks

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Published: Sep 30, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53057/linfo/2022.4.3.1
Keywords:
sentence connectors, reading comprehension, textbooks, semantics , grammatical cohesion

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Zahra Rubab
PhD Scholar, Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University, Faisalabad
Syed Kazim Shah
Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The objective of the current research is to examine the semantics of sentence connectors in reading comprehension. To achieve this objective and answer the research questions both qualitative and quantitative data was collected for the research. The sample for the current research was two textbooks from Cambridge ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels. For this purpose, a corpus of 20 reading passages was developed. To investigate the sentence connectors in selected passages Halliday and Hassan model (1976) of grammatical cohesion was applied as a theoretical framework. The findings of the current research reveal that both the textbooks have utilized sentence connectors frequently, but the overall ratio of all sentence connectors’ categories is more frequent in ‘A’ levels textbooks while ‘O’ levels textbooks have utilized various temporal connectors instead. Each word-category of sentence connectors executed specific semantic function within a text to create more cohesive ties. This research may serve the purpose to bring more researchers into this field. The findings and methodology will be helpful for teachers in teaching reading comprehension.

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How to Cite
Rubab, Z., & Shah, S. K. (2022). The Semantics of Sentence Connectors in Reading Comprehension in Pakistani English Textbooks. Linguistic Forum - A Journal of Linguistics, 4(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.53057/linfo/2022.4.3.1
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2022): Linguistic Forum - A Journal of Linguistics
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Zahra Rubab, PhD Scholar, Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University, Faisalabad

Zahra Rubab is a PhD scholar in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University, Faisalabad. Her areas of interest are, Discourse Analysis, ELT, and Corpus Linguistics

Syed Kazim Shah, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Dr. Syed Kazim Shah is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Government College University Faisalabad. His areas of interests are ELT, (Critical) Discourse Analysis, Philosophy, and Critical Thinking.

References

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