The Impact of Reference on Textual Cohesion-An Applied Study on Selected Articles from Taha Hussein’s “Bayn Bayn”

Document Type : Academic research papers

Authors

1 Egypt- Faculty of Al-Alsun -Ain Shams University

2 اللغة العربية کلية الألسن جامعة عين شمس

3 Department of Arabic language, Faculty of Al-Alsun, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Abstract

Reference is pivotal for ensuring textual cohesion, as texts heavily rely on it to maintain cohesion. It serves as a bridge between textual segments, linking the preceding to the subsequent, and vice versa. Reference extends beyond the text itself, connecting it to the external world through various means, such as pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative pronouns, and comparative constructions. This interconnectedness contributes significantly to the semantic richness of the text. This study explores the definition of reference among Westerners and Arabs, delineating its various types, including textual reference and situational reference, with textual reference further subdivided into anaphoric (backward) and cataphoric (forward) reference. It also examines the various linguistic techniques employed to achieve reference, such as pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative pronouns, and comparative constructions. Furthermore, it analyzes how these techniques contribute to the cohesion of selected articles from Taha Hussein’s Bayn Bayn [In Between], facilitating textual continuity, preventing redundant repetition, and fostering a concise and elegant style. The effective use of reference techniques was found to significantly enhance the cohesion, stylistic beauty, and clarity of meaning within the analyzed texts.

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Buhūth
Volume 5, Issue 5
Social Sciences and Humanities and Languages
May 2025
Pages 264-282

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