ANANANAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN ININININ

CÁCERESCÁCERESCÁCERESCÁCERES

I am often asked why I am here, although /so I am not sure if it is becau se /or I am an American or/and because I am in Cáceres, or both. The question usually comes from well-meaning Spaniards who are n aturally curious about anyone who had the misfortune of not being born Spa nish. However/ furthermore , they often ask. Why Cáceres? In a tone that impli es not so much curiosity but/however disbelief: why would anyone voluntarily come to Cáceres? Something I find strange as, normally, the very same people who ask that question would never dream of leaving. In fact, they are willing to do whatever it takes to remain here, including prepare public exams for year in order to become a civil servant (doing anything els e would imply leaving the region). So/therefore why is it difficult for them to believe that someo ne would choose to come here? Perhaps it is because of just that: the same devotion extremeños have to their homeland may explain their difficult y in understanding why anyone would voluntarily leave th eirs. But/and Extremadura is a region of immigrants! It was in th e time of Pizarro and Cortés (the names of villages of Extremadura are al l over America) and/ because it is today (the more “industrial” and affluent re gions of Spain are filled with extremeños who go looking for work). It must be that the conquistadores left simply to find gold in other la nds, not so different to the immigrants of today. So/although Extremadura was, and is, a region of immigrants, yes, but/or involuntary ones. Thus many people’s surprise when they discover a voluntary one here. But/therefore perhaps the very same things that made, or make, people Extremadura are p recisely what make one choose to come here in the first place. I think thi s contradiction is the essence of this region, and is what makes it unique to the rest of Spain, Europe or the world.

LINKING WORDS

- Some linking words normally form a link between clauses WITHIN a sentence. It is bad style to start a sentence with these words:

and but so because

- Another type of linking device is used to form a link BETWEEN sentences. These words must start with a capital letter and are usually immediately followed by a comma:

Furthermore, Moreover, Howev er, Therefore,

In conclusion

So and Therefore

To show RESULT

But and However

'But' is used to CONTRAST clauses WITHIN A SENTENCE.

'However,' has the same function, but is used to show CONTRAST BETWEEN SENTENCES.

Although

'Although' must join two clauses, but it's position can change. It can either start a sentence or come in the middle.

And and Furthermore

It is used to add something

Or

It is used to express an alternative

1. Read the text “An American in Cáceres and choose the correct linking word regarding the different usages.

2. Now, it´s your turn. Think about the idea of giving to know your town or village to the work and talk about it. Use as many linking words as possible to make your composition as cohesive as possible.