INTRODUCTION
Coordination involves the linking of units of equal status through the use of coordinating conjunctions .Therefore the notion of linking parts of a sentence is central to a discussion of coordination.
3.1 Coordination
Coordination is often realised in English through the use of coordinators. Coordinators, according to Strang (1970, p.194), are link words between equivalent structures like members of the same form classes, phrases, clauses or even sentences. The term coordination is used in cases where coordinating conjunctions are present or absent. These are the two cases described by Quirk and Greenbaum (1975, p. 253) as syndetic and asyndetic coordination. The following sentences exemplify cases of syndetic (when there is a coordinating conjunction) and asyndetic coordination (where there is no coordinating conjunction)
Slowly but steadily she got to the top of her career.
Slowly, steadily, she got to the top of her career.
The common coordinators are: and, or, but, for, while (when it means the same as but). The others are: rather, sooner than, nor (after a negative construction) as well as the correlatives both.. and, either..or, not only …but also, neither… nor. The following are examples of coordination of phrases and clauses with and without ellipsis of Subject or Predicate:
David likes teaching but his brother prefers business.
I wonder whether he has ever tried anything else.
You can either write or type your assignment
Janet ate a loaf of bread and drank many cups of tea.
She works in an office and her husband in a school.
Ekaete is intelligent but playful.
Coordination is often contrasted with subordination. Subordination involves the linking of units like coordination but with subordination one of the units is subordinated to the other. Indicators of subordination are referred to as subordinating conjunctions. When two adjectives modify a noun, for instance, they can be coordinated or not as in the example
1. This is her first and major outing,
The adjectives are coordinated in the above example, but if the same sentence is written as follows:
1a. This is her first major outing
the two parts are not coordinated. First modifies major which in turn modifies outing. There are similar such relationships in both coordination and subordination. In the two examples which follow, two clauses are coordinated in the first case and subordinated in the second:
2. They woke up early, but they were late.
3. Although they woke up early, they were late.
It is clear that the parts of the first sentence are independent and are linked by but whereas the parts of the second sentence are not of equal rank. The first clause is dependent on the second but the point of interest is that the two clauses have been linked.
The same semantic relationship can be suggested by a conjunct such as yet as in the following:
4. They woke up early yet they arrived late.
Sentence No 4 is an asyndetic coordination which can become syndetic with the addition of a coordinating conjunction like but as in:
4a. They woke up early but yet, they failed
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
Distinguish between coordination and subordination.
3.1.1 Clausal Coordination
There are three main coordinators. These are: and, or, but. And, or are the central coordinators. But differs from them in some respects. This will be discussed later. The clause coordinators often occur in initial positions in the clause. Examine the following:
5. Mercy sings very well and her brother plays the guitar.
This is generally the case with conjunctions and some conjuncts (particularly yet and so). However most conjuncts come later in the clause as in:
6. Mercy sings very well; her brother, however, plays the piano
Note that the conjunctions though, as, and that are exceptions to this rule. They appear non-initially in some contexts as in the
following:
7. Though she is jobless, she is very generous 7a. Jobless though she is, she is very generous.
Although unlike though is an exception. It does not change its position. Thus the second alternative- 17a is not allowed
8. Although she is jobless, she is very generous. 8a. *Jobless although she is, she is very generous
Coordinated clauses which begin with a coordinator are fixed and cannot be in front of the preceding clause without producing unacceptable sentences. For example, the coordinated clause in the
following sentence cannot come in front of the preceding clause:
They are living in Lagos or they are spending their holidays there.
9a* Or they are spending their holidays there, they are living in
Lagos.
To avoid repetition, coordinators allow ellipsis of the clauses they introduce if the subject is the same as that of the linked clause as in:
10. I shall visit you tomorrow or (I) may phone you in the evening.
This does not however apply to other conjunctions (those that are not coordinating conjunctions) including for and or to conjuncts except yet, so, or then.
11.* He did not approve of the plan for was uncooperative.
12. They did not approve of the plan yet (they) said nothing.
It is important to note that a subordinator does not allow ellipsis even when the clause is linked by a coordinator. Examine the following:
13.* I did not give him the money because he looked suspicious and
because had no bag with him.
If the second subordinator is removed the ellipsis is normal as in:
13a. I did not give him the money because he looked suspicious and
had no bag with him.
Conjuncts which normally do not allow ellipsis do so if they are preceded by a coordinator. Examine the following:
14. She slept late nevertheless had a lot of work to do
14a. She slept late, but nevertheless, (she) had work to do
The coordinators and, or can also link subordinate clauses as in the following cases:
15. I wonder whether we should send him a congratulatory message on his recent appointment or whether we should pay him a visit.
Such linking is not possible with conjuncts or for other conjunctions except but which is only restricted to linking a maximum of two clauses and even so can link only certain types of subordinate clauses
16. She said that she would attend the function but that she would be late.
Unlike but, and the subordinators and conjuncts and and or can link more than two clauses and all except the last instance of these conjunctions is mandatory. Examine the following:
17. All staff were invited, they were expected to accept the invitation and find their way to the venue of the function.
17a All staff were invited and they were expected to accept the invitation and find their way to the venue of the function.
3.1.2 Phrasal Coordination
And and or are also the main coordinators for phrasal coordination. But is used only to link adjectival clauses and adverbial phrases.
18. … an extremely long but very interesting letter.
18a. … She spoke to him politely but firmly.
It must be noted that when phrases are joined by and and or there is no ellipsis of the rest of the clause as is the case when the verb phrases or parts of them are directly linked. For instance in:
19. Felicia and her friend sang in the school choir.
Sentence No.19 is not regarded as elliptical because what it means is that Felicia sang in the school choir and her friend also sang in the school choir. The two sentences can be regarded as synonymous. Felicia and her friend are regarded as a coordinated noun phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence. The two nouns can be replaced by the girls or they. This type of coordination is phrasal coordination.
Phrases that can be coordinated include:
Noun phrases: Mary and Agnes, novels and plays,;
There maybe ellipsis of the head within the noun phrase
20. New and old were asked to pay their fees.
(the ellipsis for old students and new students)
Coordination also occurs with units other than noun phrase. These include
Prepositional Phrases:
21. The thief ran down the street and into the bush.
Adverbials and Dependent Clauses:
22. You can lift the load gradually or by using a truck.
23. She can come this evening or early in the morning.
Adjectives can be coordinated when they are predicative:
24. He is young and handsome
Adjectives can also be coordinated when they are attributive:
25. His fluent and intelligent speech impressed listeners.
It must be noted that ellipsis can occur in all three cases where the first or second of the phrases is omitted: examine the following;
26. I shall see him when (he wishes) and where he wishes.
27. She will come before it gets dark or after (it gets dark).
28. I am willing (to tell her the truth) but afraid to tell the truth.
There are also some stereotyped and institutionalized coordinated expressions such as: If and when, as and when, and unless and until.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Use the above coordinated phrases in your own sentences.
3.1.3 Semantic Implications of Coordination
There are certain semantic implications of coordination by and, or, but. And suggests relationships between the clauses which suggest chronology through comment to consequence and contrast. Let us illustrate this with some examples:
29. He heard gunshots and (therefore) he called for help (consequence)
30. She washed the clothes and (then) she ironed them (chronology)
31. Tony is cowardly and his brother is a courageous man (contrast)
Note that and can be replaced by but in the last example.
32. Nobody likes Susan - and that is not surprising (Comment)
33. She studied very hard and yet she failed. (element of surprise )
Note that and can also be replaced by but in the last example.
34. Tell me the truth and I will give you protection (condition).
35. She wears shorthair and (also) she wears a mild perfume. (addition)
Or usually expresses the idea that only one of the possibilities obtain. Examine the following:
36. You can sleep on the bed or on the couch, or you can go to a hotel.
Sometimes or is regarded as inclusive, allowing the combination of alternatives, and the third alternative can be included as a third clause:
37. They are free to interview individuals or ask for memoranda or do both.
At other times, the alternative expressed by or may be a restatement or correction of what is said as in the following examples:
38. They entertained visitors all day or at least they appeared to be doing so.
39. Okon has just become ajambite, or, in other words, he is in his first year in a university.
Also, or may suggest a negative condition as in the following:
40. Pay your rent regularly or you quit.
No 40 can be paraphrased as: Pay your rent regularly. If you do not, you quit.
But normally suggests a contrast. The contrast may be because what is said in the second part in unexpected judging from what is said in the first part, or the contrast may be a restatement in positive terms of what was said or implied negatively in the first part. Examine the following:
41. She did not need a servant but accepted the orphan.
42. Peter did not waste his money on trivialities but saved every bit of it.
Note also that yet can replace but in No.41 while on the contrary can be used instead of but in No.42
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3
Summarise the semantic implications of and, but, and or.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Coordination differs from subordination in that the former describes the linking of two equivalent structures. Well coordinated sentence constructions are achieved by distinguishing between equivalent and subordinating structures to be linked and using appropriate coordinators.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit the main points that have been made are:
•Coordination involves the linking of units of equal status through the use of coordinating conjunctions.
•Coordinating conjunctions are link words between equivalent
structures.
•Coordination is often contrasted with subordination.
•Subordination also involves the linking of units but with subordination one of the units is subordinated to the other.
•Words, clauses and phrases can be coordinated.
•There are three main coordinators; these are: and, or, but.
•There are semantic implications of coordination by and, but and or. •And suggests relationships which range from chronology through
consequence to addition.
•Or suggests that only one of the possibilities obtain.
•But suggests contrast.
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
Distinguish between coordination and subordination.
1. Coordination involves the linking of units of equal status through the use of coordinating conjunctions. Coordination is often realised in English through the use of coordinators as well as the correlatives both..and, either..or, not only…but also, neither …
2. Coordination is often contrasted with subordination. Subordination involves the linking of units like coordination but with subordination one of the units is subordinated to the other.
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Use the above coordinated phrases: If and when, as and when, and unless and until in sentences:
Candidates should make their own sentences using the coordinated phrases in italics.
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3
Summarise the semantic implications of and, but, and or.
There are semantic implications of coordination by and, but and or. And suggests relationships which range from chronology through
consequence to addition.
Or suggests that only one of the possibilities obtain.
But suggests contrast
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Explain the term coordination and discuss its types.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Eka, D. (1996). Elements of Grammar and Mechanics of English.
Uyo: Samuf Educational.
Eka, D. (ed) (1993). Fundamentals of Communication in English.
Calabar: BON Universal Ltd
Quirk, P. and Greenbaum, S. (1975). A University Grammar of English. London: Longman.
Strang, B.H.M (1970). Modern English Structure (2nd ed.). London: Edward Arnold.
Udofot, I. and Ekpenyong, B. (2004). A Comprehensive English Course for Schools and Colleges. Lagos: Quantum Co. Ltd.
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