And'' and ''but'' are textual themes.Consider the written sentences below, from a grant proposal:
In this project, we lay the ground work for developing a potentially trans- formational approach to assessment in the 21st century.How is ''but'' functioning here to create a context or framework for interpretation (the role of themes)?What difference would it have made if the speaker had said ''I did partic- ipate in it. Sara, however, wasn't able to''?Today, work that requires only basic skills flows overseas where labor is cheaper.Does this help explain the choice of themes?