ELLIPSIS

An elliptical sentence is such a syntactic structure in which there is no subject, or predicate, or both. The main parts of elliptical sentences are omitted by the speaker intentionally in cases when they are semantically re­dundant. For example:

- Where did you go?

- To the disco.

 

Assigned features. Elliptical sentences can not be viewed as stylistic devices in direct intercourse because they are devoid of suprasegmental information. Ellipsis becomes expressive when used in literature as a means of imitating real speech. Ellipsis makes speech dynamic, informative and unofficial.

Communicative functions. Ellipsis saves the speaker from needless ef­fort, spares his time, reduces redundancy of speech. Elliptical structures may also reveal such speakers' emotions as excitement, impatience, delight, etc. As a stylistic device, ellipsis is an effective means of protagonists' portrayal.

More examples:

- Hullo! Who are you?

- The staff.

- Where are the others?

- At the front.

Вгорі ~ темне непривітне небо, долі - холодна мокра земля, і

більш нічого.

Скільки тобі вчитися в училищі? - Два роки. Note. It is essential to differentiate between elliptical sentences and one-member structures. The problem is that they may look completely hom­onymous out of context. For example, the isolated sentence "Dark night" can be treated both as one-member (non-elliptical) or two-member elliptical struc­ture. What is what becomes clear only in speech. If a text begins with the sequence of sentences "Dark night. Strong wind. Loneliness", they are obviously one-member, having neither subject nor predicate. But if the im­plied subject and predicate can be easily and unambiguously restored in con­text, we deal with a two-member elliptical sentence. Thus, the sentence "At the front" of the above given example is two-member, elliptical, and extend­ed, its subject they and its predicate are being implied.