- What are connectors?
- Copulative connectors
- Disjunctive connectors
- Causal connectors
- Adversative connectors
- Consecutive connectors
- Temporary connectors
- Locative connectors
- Repetitive connectors
- Clarifying connectors
- Comparative connectors
- Conclusive connectors
- Conditional connectors
We explain what are language connectors and what is their function. In addition, the characteristics and examples of each type of connector.
What are connectors?
It is known in linguistics as discursive connectors, textual markers, speech operators or simply connectors, to the units of language that allow joining the parts of a text oral or written.
Connectors provide a logical relationship between paragraphs and prayers of the text, thus allowing the ideas to be integrated in the best way and that the communication be fluent. We must not confuse them with grammatical links, which only have to do with the union of one sentence with another.
The connectors can be words, whole sentences or different sets of elements, whose appearance in the speech establishes some kind of relationship between the previous parts and those to come, serving as control elements of the text. Depending on the type of relationship they establish, they can be classified into a set of categories that we will see below.
Copulative connectors
They are those that act as a bridge between two segments, and allow adding elements to what has been said.
They are examples of them: Y, and, neither, further, even, too, on the other hand, added to, parallel, next, on the other hand, in fact, on, it's more, etc.
Disjunctive connectors
They are those that pose a choice or disjunction between two different elements of discourse, that is, one or the other.
They are examples of them: or, or, whether, O well, etc.
Causal connectors
They are those who introduce a cause or motive, that is, they start a relationship cause effect between the elements of the text. In this case, they usually identify with the cause.
Examples of this are: so that, for this reason, therefore, this is due to, in consecuense, but, it is because of that, Given the, by the fact that, etc.
Adversative connectors
They are those that oppose (oppose) or oppose two elements of the discourse, in such a way that one cancels or opposes the other.
They are examples of them: but nevertheless, Nevertheless, However, with everything, but, etc.
Consecutive connectors
They are those that correspond to the consequence, not the cause, of a cause-effect relationship. They would be the counterpart of the causes.
They are examples of them: even if, although, still, although, although, Yes OK, by more than, etc.
Temporary connectors
They are those that allow the discourse to be temporarily organized, establishing relationships before or before, simultaneously and afterwards.
Examples of each are:
- Anteriority: before, long time, once Upon a time, formerly, at the beginning, previously, long ago, Firstly, etc.
- Simultaneity: At this precise moment, at the same time, simultaneously, nowadays, Meanwhile, synchronously, etc.
- Subsequent: after, later, subsequently, Finally, later, then, etc.
Locative connectors
They are those that establish places of reference (be they physical or imaginary), or place a reference with respect to others.
They are examples of them: here, there, where, in front of, Above, where, beside, below, etc.
Repetitive connectors
They are those that allow the reintroduction of elements of the discourse, insisting on them or emphasizing them, so that the receiver does not forget them or understand them better.
They are examples of them: in other words, rather, more precisely, In other words, in a nutshell, summarizing, in other words, again, etc.
Clarifying connectors
They are those that add precision to the speech, allowing the speaker to better explain what he wants to say.
They are examples of them: as to, about, with reference to, on the other hand, based on, etc.
Comparative connectors
They are those who introduce a comparison or contrast between two or more elements of the speech, to highlight some type of similarity or difference between them.
They are examples of them: analogously, similarly, equally, in the same way, However, inversely, etc.
Conclusive connectors
They are those that allow you to enter conclusions in speech, that is, to end a statement of reasons.
They are examples of them: in conclusion, by last, in sum, In conclusion, etc.
Conditional connectors
They are those that link two elements of discourse in such a way that the realization or acceptance of one also implies the realization or acceptance of the other. That is, it establishes a condition between different elements.
They are examples of them: in case of, as long as, unless, unless, when, etc.