The Use of Cohesive Conjunctions in Korean EFL Learners’ Written Narrative Discourse

Abstract

This study examined Korean EFL learners’ ability to establish textual cohesion in English through appropriate use of conjunctions in their written narrative discourse. It employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses to explore how the position where conjunctions are placed as well as the amount and types of conjunctions used in Korean EFL learners’ written discourse was similar to or different from that of the native English speakers. It also looked at the Korean EFL learners’ L1 written discourse to see whether there are any language-specific choices of conjunctions. Findings from the quantitative analysis of the written narratives showed that both groups of participants used significantly more sentence-middle interclausal conjunctions, or conjunctive morphemes, in case of Korean language, in their L1 writing. But Koreans relied heavily on sentence-initial intersentential conjunctions in their English writing. In addition, the qualitative analysis revealed that the Korean EFL learners were not able to use conjunctions strategically in marking varied discourse functions.