What is cataphora?

Definition
	Cataphora is the coreference of one expression with another expression which follows it. The following expression provides the information necessary for interpretation of the preceding one.
	This is often understood as an expression “referring” forward to another expression.

Example (English)
	In the following sentence, the relationship of one to a towel is an example of cataphora: If you need one, there’s a towel in the top drawer.

Generic
	Cataphora is a kind of
	What is endophora?

Sources
	Gutwinski 1976 67
	Halliday and Hasan 1976 17
	Crystal 1985 43

Context for this page:

Concept module: cataphora
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): C
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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