The twin concepts of cohesion and coherence have, for a long time, crystallised the key issues of text linguistics. By illustrating the way in which these notions work and are articulated, we put under the spotlight this field which makes textual linguistics a recognisable discipline between pure syntax and discourse analysis.

Based on the simple idea that language is first and foremost a social product born of the conflicts in which it has played a militant, conciliatory and protective role, this collection of articles and chronicles provides a partial outline of a vocabulary called on during social dissension, namely industrial action.

This work is the opposite of a dictionary. It focuses on situations, drawn from the chaos of history, to identify differences in usage rather than consensus, those moments of rupture which move language forward. Hence the disparate nature of a collection of articles and chronicles from various sources.

There are at least three ways of unlocking meaning. The first of these might involve our involvement in language acquisition during our lives. The second is an historical approach. The third method lies in the text itself.

Given that this volume is designed as a "guide" covering the basics of German linguistics, with an illustrative rather than an exhaustive approach so as not to be too technical, a rather unusual format was required.