The elliptic clauses in the question-answer construction-answer construction
Гайнуллина Анжела, ЛПИ филиал СФУ
Varieties of ellipsis have long formed a central explicandum for linguistic theory, since elliptical phenomena seem to be able to shed light on basic questions of form-meaning correspondence: in particular, the usual mechanisms of grasping a meaning from a form seem to be bypassed or supplanted in the interpretation of elliptical structures, ones in which there is meaning without form. In generative linguistics, the term ellipsis has been applied to a range of phenomena in which a perceived interpretation is fuller than that which would be expected based solely on the presence of linguistic forms [1]. Briefly speaking, ellipse is a deliberate omission of at least one member of the sentence, as in famous quotation from Macbeth: “What! All my pretty chickens and their dam // at one fell swoop?”. In the grammar of a sentence, an elliptical construction is a construction that lacks an element, that is, nevertheless, recoverable or inferable from the context. In other words, it means that the elliptical construction is a sequence of words in which some words have been omitted; and because of the logic or pattern of the entire sentence, it is easy to infer what the missing words are. Examples: “The two men’s eyes met. In Dorian’s there was infinite pity.” (O. Wilde). "Lucky for him that his mind was as swift as an eagle." (H. Wells). "You silent and dull all day!" (Ch. Dickens). Awfully commercial, women nowadays. (O. Wilde). There is a great number of definitions of elliptical constructions. As is customary, linguists can’t concur with each other and come to a good consensus as to it. According to the Oxford dictionary of literary terms, ellipsis or ellipse (Latin ellipsis, to come short) is the omission from a sentence of a word, words or phrase that would be required for complete clarity, complete syntactical construction, but not necessary for understanding, i.e. which can usually be understood from the context [2]. That is to say that an elliptical clause is a clause in which certain words are “understood” without being said or written. As in most languages, English allows for the omission of words when they are obvious by nature of context or grammar. An elliptical clause (a form of elliptical construction) may be either independent or subordinate. Some examples of elliptical clauses are as follows: The average person thinks he isn't. (Father Larry Lorenzo) Sam was in her blood. Had always been. Would always be. (P.Abrahams) At the same time, complete sentences are not always appropriate: repetition of the same words can lead to difficulties in communication and understanding. That’s why incomplete sentences have its own semantically-stylistic advantages such as vivacity and naturalness, they allow to emphasize the communicative center of statement [3]. Today, when everybody is in hurry, elliptical constructions are often used in dialogue to shorten what is being said, to make it simple for understanding and finally to create a single whole of as much information and as shorter sentence-structure as possible at the same time. That’s why surface structure of statement consists of rational minimum components only, i.e. which are necessary and efficient in perception of meaning. At the same time it’s closely related to the fact that such extralinguistic factors as gestures, facial expressions and situation take a great place as additional components of colloquial speech equally with words. Compare (the omitted words are noted in brackets below): "Married?" (“Are you...”) "Widower, sir. (“I am a..”) Two children." (“I have...”) (J. Galsworthy). Charlie. Have you asked her yet? Captain Jinks. Not often enough (“I have, but not often enough”) Aurelia. And by the way, before I forget it, I hope you'll come to supper to-night — here. Will you? After the opera. («Will you come to supper tonight?») Captain Jinks. Delighted! («I shall be delighted to come!») (Fitch) Usually some particular parts of sentences are left out in dialogue because they can be understood from one of the previous sentences which refers to interlocutor or when it can be dropped out without misunderstanding of the sentence. First sentences of the dialogue are supposed to have full structure and be more independent than the following ones. Each sentence is made in the process of direct communication, in the process of speaking with constant changing of statements that’s why the main characteristics of dialog are short-spokenness, formal structural incompleteness, logical and grammatical compatibility of sentences and specified structure [4]. So we can see, ellipsis is a typical phenomenon in conversation, arising out of the situation. We mention this peculiar feature of the spoken language when we characterize its essential qualities and properties. But this typical feature of the spoken language assumes a new quality when used in the written language. It becomes a stylistic device which supplies suprasegmental information. An elliptical sentence in direct intercourse is not a stylistic device. It is simply a norm of the spoken language. Ellipsis is a common form of compression both in everyday speech and in poetry (e.g. Shakespeare, “I will (go) to Ireland”); it is used with notable frequency by T. S. Eliot and other poets of modernism. In contemporary prose ellipsis is mainly used in dialogue where it is consciously employed by the author to reflect the natural omissions characterizing oral colloquial speech. It is the situational nature of our everyday speech which heavily relies on both speakers' awareness of the conditions and details of the communication act that promotes normative colloquial omissions. Imitation of these oral colloquial norms is created by the author through ellipsis, with the main function of achieving the authenticity and plausibility of fictitious dialogue [5]. The missing parts of the elliptical clause can be guessed from the context and most readers are not aware that anything is missing. In fact, elliptical clauses are regarded as both useful and correct, even in formal prose, because they are often elegant, efficient means of expression. Very often customers of the café use elliptical constructions in particular such as omission of predicate. The fact is that there is some kind of complete mutual understanding between a customer and a waiter caused by typical situation for both of them which provides concretization of meaning and then reliability of communication. Example: He was at her place in an hour… - Some juice?(Would you like some juice?) - A cup of coffee, please.(I’d like a cup of coffee) - What else(would you like)? - A cake, perhaps… (I’d like a cake, perhaps). In English usage of elliptical constructions by shop customers almost doesn’t exist, it sounds rude and inappropriate. In Russian, conversely, they are often used in such situations and it’s not taken as uncivil and impolite. Compare: In English: - I’d like to know if it`s possible to show me that coat? - Here it is. - Could you show me some tweed suits, please? - Do you want heavy tweed, madam? In Russian: A loaf of white bread, please. Here you go. In that way it is about correct and pertinent usage of constructions with elliptical clauses. Some constructions which we can to make a dialogue in Russian are often out of place in English. Most of elliptical constructions are compressed sentences aimed to save speech facilities. It means that a speaker uses it not because he doesn’t know how to shape sentence but it saves time. That’s why such kind of constructions are met in business communication, as people say “time is money”. An everyday communicative unit of every language is, first of all, a dialogue unity. The point is that dialogue is a part of colloquial speech that has main characteristics such as free unbound syntactical structure, laconical phrases, mobility, self-descriptiveness and, consequently, variety of elliptical constructions. The presence of elliptical constructions in the structure of language is natural process of syntax evolution, so such kind of constructions are “indispensable attribute” of every language.
Библиографический список: 1. Колшанский Г.В. Теоретические проблемы билингвизма. Лингвистика и методика в высшей школе - М., Высшая школа, 1997. 2. Бархударов Л.С. Структура простого предложения современного английского языка – М.: Высшая школа, 1996. 3. Ильиш Б.А. Строй современного английского языка – Л.: Просвещение, 1991. 4. Раевская Н.М. Modern English Grammar [Электронный ресурс] / Н.М. Раевская. – Режим доступа: https://bookz.ru/authors/raevskaa-natalia.html 5. Смирницкий А.Н. Синтаксис английского языка - М.: Высшая школа, 1991.
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