Realization of Textual Cohesion and Coherence in Business Letters through Presupposition

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

© 2017 by SSRG - IJHSS Journal

Volume 4 Issue 2

Year of Publication : 2017

Authors : Yu Chunmei

10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V4I2P101

How to Cite?

Yu Chunmei, "Realization of Textual Cohesion and Coherence in Business Letters through Presupposition," SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 4,  no. 2, pp. 1-6, 2017. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V4I2P101

Abstract:

The study, based on the theory of textual function proposed by Halliday and Thompson, discusses how presupposition contributes to the textural cohesion and coherence in business letters through analysis of the sample letters randomly chosen from websites and textbooks. Presupposition refers to what is assumed by the speaker when uttering a specific sentence, as the mutual knowledge shared by both sides of the participants, is an evitable requirement for interpretation of the business letters. Textual cohesion and coherence ensure the smooth information flow of the discourse, so the reader could understand the business letter in a sufficient way. Presupposition contributes to the cohesion of the discourse in business letters through cohesive devices including reference, ellipsis and conjunction; textural coherence could be realized by presupposition for the common knowledge shared by the writer and the reader. The study recommends that presupposition can be widely used in English business writing and meet textual cohesion and coherence of the discourse.

Keywords:

presupposition, textual cohesion, textual coherence, business letters.

References:

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