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cumuleme and occurseme are component units of these two types of texts, which means that they form,
respectively, subtopical and exchange-subtopical units as regards the embedding text as a whole. Within the
framework of the system of language, however, since the text as such does not form any "unit" of it, the
cumuleme and occurseme can simply be referred to as topical elements (correspondingly, topical and exchange-
topical), without the "sub"-specification.
§ 3. Sentences in a cumulative sequence can be connected either "prospectively" or "retrospectively".
Prospective ("epiphoric", "cataphoric") cumulation is effected by connective elements that relate a given
sentence to one that is to follow it. In other words, a prospective connector signals a continuation of speech: the
sentence containing it is semantically incomplete. Very often prospective connectors are notional words that
perform the cumulative function for the nonce. E.g.:
I tell you, one of two things must happen. Either out of that darkness some new creation will come to
supplant us as we have supplanted the animals, or the heavens will fall in thunder and destroy us (B. Shaw).
The prospective connection is especially characteristic of the texts of scientific and technical works. E.g.:
Let me add a word of caution here. The solvent vapour drain enclosure must be correctly engineered and
constructed to avoid the possibility of a serious explosion (From a technical journal).
As different from prospective cumulation, retrospective (or "anaphoric") cumulation is effected by
connective elements that relate a given sentence to the one that precedes it and is semantically complete by
itself. Retrospective cumulation is the more important type of sentence connection of the two; it is the basic
type of cumulation in ordinary speech. E.g.:
What curious "class" sensation was this? Or was it merely fellow-feeling with the hunted, a tremor at the
way things found one out? (J. Galsworthy).
§ 4. On the basis of the functional nature of connectors, cumulation is divided into two fundamental types:
conjunctive cumulation and correlative cumulation.
Conjunctive cumulation is effected by conjunction-like connectors. To these belong, first, regular
conjunctions, both coordinative and subordinative; second, adverbial and parenthetical sentence-connectors
(then, yet, however, consequently, hence, besides, moreover, nevertheless, etc.). Adverbial and parenthetical
sentence-connectors may be both specialized, i.e. functional and semi-functional words, and non-specialized
units performing the connective functions for the nonce. E.g.:
There was an indescribable agony in his voice. And as if his own words of pain overcame the last barrier of
his self-control, he broke down (S. Maugham). There was no train till nearly eleven, and she had to bear her
impatience as best she could. At last it was time to start, and she put on her gloves (S. Maugham).
Correlative cumulation is effected by a pair of elements one of which, the "succeedent", refers to the other,
the "antecedent", used in the foregoing sentence; by means of this reference the succeeding sentence is related
to the preceding one, or else the preceding sentence is related to the succeeding one. As we see, by its direction
correlative cumulation may be either retrospective or prospective, as different from conjunctive cumulation
which is only retrospective.
Correlative cumulation, in its turn, is divided into substitutional connection and representative connection.
Substitutional cumulation is based on the use of substitutes. E.g.:
Spolding woke me with the apparently noiseless efficiency of the trained housemaid. She drew the curtains,
placed a can of hot water in my basin, covered it with the towel, and retired (E.J. Howard).
A substitute may have as its antecedent the whole of the preceding sentence or a clausal part of it.
Furthermore, substitutes often go together with conjunctions, effecting cumulation of mixed type. E.g.:
And as I leaned over the rail methought that all the little stars in the water were shaking with austere
merriment. But it may have been only the ripple of the steamer, after all (R. Kipling).
Representative correlation is based on representative elements which refer to one another without the factor
of replacement. E.g.:
She should be here soon. I must tell Phipps, I am not in to any one else (O. Wilde). I went home. Maria
accepted my departure indifferently (E.J. Howard).
Representative correlation is achieved also by repetition, which may be complicated by different variations.
E.g.:
Well, the night was beautiful, and the great thing not to be a pig. Beauty and not being a pig! Nothing much
else to it (J. Galsworthy).
§ 5. A cumuleme (cumulative supra-sentential construction) is formed by two or more independent
sentences making up a topical syntactic unity. The first of the sentences in a cumuleme is its "leading" sentence,
the succeeding sentences are "sequential".