Conjunctive and Non-conjunctive Coordination

 

On the basis of the connective means employed there distinguish two types of compound sentences of coordination:

1) syndetic (conjunctive);

2) asyndetic (non-conjunctive) [7].

In syndetic compound sentences the type of coordination isexpressed by means of special coordinators (coordinating conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs / conjuncts): The candle lit the dusty room, and all the shifty shapes came into view.

According to their structure, coordinators can be divided into one-member, or simple (and, but) and multi-member (either...or).

Functionally, coordinative connectors, or coordinators, are divided into:

1) conjunctions proper, e.g.: and, but, or, for, either…or, neither… nor, etc.;

2) semi-functional connectors of adverbial character, e.g.: nevertheless, besides, otherwise, therefore, moreover, consequently, however, yet, still, thus, then, so, so that etc. [15].

The peculiarity of and and or is that they can link more than two clauses: Men will come, and men will go, and nothing can stop this cycle of existence.

Adverbial connectors, unlike pure conjunctions, can be shifted in the sequential clause (except for yet and so), e.g.: The power of the desires is a root of human suffering, therefore, the liberation lies in the letting go of them. => The power of the desires is a root of human suffering, the liberation, therefore, lies in the letting go of them.

Though for and so are considered coordinating conjunctions, they are in fact intermediate between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Like subordinating conjunctions they introduce clauses of cause and result. The clauses they introduce are more independent than the corresponding clauses introduced by subordinating conjunctions. This is expressed by the intonation and punctuation marks: the for and so clauses are often separated by a semicolon: He was never fully understood by the peers; for his work was much too “highbrow”.

So that is also a conjunction intermediate between subordination and coordination. When used after a comma in writing or a pause in speaking its connection with the previous clause is looser and it performs the function of a coordinating conjunction: The test is going to be extremely hard, so that we'd better put on our thinking caps.

In order to give a specification to the semantics of clausal relations, the coordinative conjunction can be used together with an accompanying functional particle-like or adverb-like word [18]. In that manner these conjunctions form the following conjunctive specifying combinations:

—but: but merely, but instead, but also: Not only did he turn his back on me, but also he spread some nasty rumors.

—or: or else, or rather, or even: Give my money back, or else I'll turn you in to the police.

— and: and so, and yet, and consequently: You are a grown woman now, and yet you still play children's games.

If the coordinator is but, so or yet, it is usual to repeat the subject: I try to unravel this mystery, but I can't.

In asyndetic compound sentences the conjunctions are absent. Two or more clauses are made into one sentence without any coordinator being used (by the zero coordinator) [7]: Don't you dare make any rush moves, I'm totally capable of pulling this trigger!

In writing, asyndetically joined coordinate clauses are separated by a comma (,), semicolon (;), colon (:) or a dash (—) [22]: It's none of your fault; this one is totally on her. I'm going to the gym: sometimes it's really great to stretch your muscles. I went to the mall today — boy, did I like those shoes on sale!

If both asyndetic clauses are negative in meaning and the second clause opens with still less, much less or even less, this second clause has inverted word order: He doesn't help his relatives, much less does he help his friends.

Besides a conjunction, which is a central means of linking, it’s possible to single out some semantic, syntactic, and morphological means of linking which are called secondary:

1) Structural arrangement of clauses:

a) ellipsis;

b) anaphoric pronouns;

c) substitute words (one, do etc);

2) Tense forms of predicates:

a) relative use (future in the past);

b) absolute use (the same tenses in all clauses);

3) Order of the clauses [2].

Semantic link: if none of the formal means is used usually it’s linked by column (:), as in: Jerry couldn't forgive them: the memory was too fresh and painful.

Typically, the opening clause mostly plays the leading role, and each successive clause is joined to the previous clause. However, a sentence may begin with a coordinating connector, but in this case the whole sentence is joined to the previous sentence in the text [5]: No cutlass wound will mar thy face. And you will be my ain't true love. (Sting)

The number of clauses in a compound sentence may be greater than two, and in this case the conjunctions uniting the clauses may be different: Love may come, and love may go,– but I remain!