ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-HAR-0001 · ATLAS 251

Abscission

A pointed interruption of a syntactic construction that has already begun, often to make emotion or refusal audible.

Explanation

Abscission severs a linguistic movement before it reaches its expected destination. It is not the absence itself, but the perceptible break that carries the effect.

Example

One more sentence like that, and I—enough.

Counterexample

I’m ending this conversation now. – a complete statement without a staged break.

Distinction

Distinguish from aposiopesis: Both cut off; in abscission, the sharp formal cut is particularly emphasized.

Effect on thought and perception

Draws attention to the moment when language refuses to continue.

Resonance

The severed part of the sentence continues to resonate as a possibility, even though its thread visibly ends.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Abscission“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-HAR-0001. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-HAR-0001

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-HAR-0001

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