Key aspects of supra-sentential linking include:
* Cohesion: The smooth flow and interconnectedness of sentences, achieved through various linguistic devices such as:
* Reference: Pronouns, definite articles, and other words that refer back to previously mentioned entities.
* Substitution: Replacing words or phrases with synonyms or related terms.
* Ellipsis: Omitting words or phrases that are understood from the context.
* Conjunctions: Words that connect sentences and clauses (e.g., "and," "but," "because").
* Coherence: The logical and meaningful connections between sentences, creating a unified and understandable text. This involves:
* Topic continuity: Maintaining a consistent theme or topic across sentences.
* Information flow: Presenting information in a logical order, building upon previous information.
* Logical relationships: Establishing causal, temporal, or other logical connections between sentences.
* Rhetorical structure: The overall organization and arrangement of sentences to achieve a specific communicative purpose. This includes:
* Paragraphing: Structuring text into distinct units with a central theme.
* Theme and rheme: Highlighting the main information (theme) and the new information (rheme) in each sentence.
* Sentence types: Using different sentence types (e.g., declarative, interrogative, imperative) for effect.
Examples of supra-sentential linking:
* Reference: "The dog barked. It chased the cat." (The pronoun "it" refers back to the dog.)
* Conjunction: "The sun was shining. However, the wind was cold." (The conjunction "however" shows a contrasting relationship between the sentences.)
* Topic continuity: "The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in Paris. It is a popular tourist destination. Tourists from all over the world visit the tower each year." (The sentences focus on the Eiffel Tower and tourism.)
In essence, supra-sentential linking ensures that a text is more than just a collection of individual sentences. It creates a cohesive and coherent whole, facilitating the understanding and interpretation of the intended message.