Content

1.  Aims and research questions  3

2.  A brief overview on the properties of conjuncts  4

2.1.  The semantics of conjuncts  5

2.2.  Realisation of the conjuncts (syntactic realisation)  5

2.3.  Comparison  6

3.  Approach on conjuncts in written and spoken English  8

3.1.  Listing, additive conjuncts  9

3.1.1.  Furthermore in written English  9

3.1.2.  Furthermore in spoken English  10

3.1.3.  In addition in written English  11

3.1.4.  In addition in spoken English  12

3.1.5.  Moreover in written English  13

3.1.6.  Moreover in spoken English  13

3.2.  Inferential conjuncts  14

3.2.1.  In that case in written English  14

3.2.2.  In that case in spoken English  13

3.2.3.  Then in written English  13

3.2.4.  Then in spoken English  14

4.  Conclusion  15

5.  References  16

1. Aims and research questions

…an identical spoken and written language would be practically intolerable. If we

spoke as we write we should find no one to listen: and if we write as we speak we

should find no one to read. The spoken and written language must not be too near

together, as they must not be too far apart.

(T.S. Eliot)

Speech and writing have different features. I want to give only some aspects to make the difference clear ¹ :

The last feature is the most important with regard to this examination. The paper explores different conjuncts concerning the usage in spoken and written English. I will in particular examine and consider the following aspects:

(1) How often is a certain conjunct used in written and spoken English? (Frequency) (2) Are there any words or word-classes that appear often before a certain conjunct? (3) Are there any words or word-classes that appear often after a certain conjunct? (4) Is there any change in the position of a conjunct with regard to written and spoken English? (Word-order)

Hence, I will start the paper with a brief overview on the characteristics of conjuncts.

The aim of the paper is to analyse the variation of conjuncts in speech and writing to understand the differences in usage.

¹ www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/english/07speechwriting/32characteristics/ind... (08.11.2004)

2. A brief overview on the properties of conjuncts

Conjuncts are adverbials that are used to link ideas or clauses in spoken discourse or written texts. They serve a connecter function by telling us “how the speaker or writer understand the semantic connection between two utterances, or parts of utterances. […] Conjuncts are not elements of the structure, but connectors of structure between” ² :

The position of conjunctive adverbs is like that of other adverbs. They may appear: ³ At the beginning He doesn’t like his job; however, he won’t leave until he finds another job. With the verb He doesn’t like his job; he won’t leave, however, until he finds another job. At the end He doesn’t like his job; he won’t leave until he finds another job,

² Downing/ Locke (1992:63.)

³ examples from the grammar course at university WiSe 2003/04

2.1. The semantics of conjuncts

“Semantically, many different types of connection can be expressed” ⁴ . I want to list the main types:

2.2. Realisation of the conjuncts (syntactic realisation)

Conjunctions are realised in different ways. Here, I name the various classes of units ⁵ : (a) Closed-class adverbs: nevertheless, moreover… (b) Open-class adverbs: namely, consequently… (c) PrepGs: in other words, by the way… (d) AdjGs: last of all… (e) AdvGs: more accurately (f) Finite clause: that is to say…

⁴ Greenbaum/ Quirck (1990: 185f.).

⁵ Examples from Downing/ Locke (1992: 64).

(g) Non-finite clause: to sum up…

2.3. Comparison of conjuncts, conjunctions, adjuncts and disjuncts and prepositional phrases

⁶ Grennbaum/ Quirk (1990: 262f.).

⁷ Grennbaum/ Quirk (1990: 193f.).

⁸ Brinton (2000: 193f.).

⁹ Grennbaum/ Quirk (1990: 188f.).

¹⁰ see chapter 2

¹¹ see Brinton (2000: 195.).