Abstract
SUBSTITUTION OF CLAUSES IN THE TEXT OF THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE MONGOL
Within the framework of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), developed by M.A.K. Halliday and Riquya Hasan, this article examines cohesion in the Mongolian language. It aims to explain some of the meanings conveyed by cohesive devices used in the text. To achieve this, we focus on substitutional words and expressions found in The Secret History of the Mongols, a key historical source of Mongolia, and analyze several principles underlying their use.
In SFG, substitution is categorized into nominal, verbal, and clausal forms. Clausal substitution is further divided into three subcategories: substitution of reported clauses, substitution of conditional clauses, and substitution of modalized clauses. Based on this classification, several distinct forms of substitution in clauses can be observed in The Secret History of the Mongols. Specifically, when an idea has already been introduced or explained, substituting it with different words or clauses—without repeating the same content—serves to capture the listener’s attention, build persuasion, and save time.
A clause containing substitution is often followed by an interpretive passage, which contributes to the overall conclusion of the text. In other words, the clauses that follow a substituted clause serve to extend the idea within the text. Clausal substitution not only expresses modal meanings related to evaluating and judging phenomena but also serves to elaborate, extend, and enhance the ideas within the text. Additionally, it enriches the background content (Theme) by providing supplementary details about the number, time, location, and cause of phenomena, thereby creating emphatic information (Rhema).
The study of cohesion in the Mongolian language has both theoretical and practical significance for text composition, text analysis, and defining the information structure within a text.
Keywords
cohesion, conjunction, nominal substitution, verbal substitution, clausal substitutio