Ellipsis and Substitution in Short Stories: Maintaining Textual Cohesion in Literary Discourse

Abstract

The article investigates the use of ellipsis and substitution as grammatical cohesion devices in English short stories, focusing on their role in maintaining textual cohesion within literary discourse. The study identifies various forms and functions of ellipsis and substitution, including nominal, verbal and clausal forms, and explores how these devices contribute to the overall flow and unity of the text. The findings highlight that ellipsis and substitution are essential tools for creating cohesive literary texts, allowing writers to achieve brevity while ensuring clarity and continuity. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of cohesion in literary writing and offers insights that may benefit both literary analysis and language teaching focused on discourse competence.