Research Article
Narrative Strategies and Linguistic Style in the Historical Fiction of Timeri N. Murari
Mahendran Rengaraj*
,
Muniyaraj Gurusamy
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
40-46
Received:
21 December 2025
Accepted:
25 June 2026
Published:
17 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.cls.20261202.11
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Abstract: The primary objective of this article is to examine the narrative strategies and linguistic style employed by Timeri N. Murari, a prominent author in contemporary Indian English fiction, in his three historical novels namely, Taj, The Imperial Agent, and The Last Victory. Murari redefines history and identity through an array of narrative techniques and stylistic choices. The article also explores key tenets of a literary work such as title, setting, plot, theme, point of view, narration time, and characterisation, highlighting how these techniques formalise both the personal and collective dimensions of history. It further investigates Murari’s peculiar use of diction, syntax, similes, metaphors, humour, and magic realism, which together enrich the texture of his fiction and localise English expression within the Indian context. By weaving cultural idioms, inter-texts, and mythological references into his fiction, Murari formulates a hybrid narrative form that harmonises linguistic innovation with historical imagination. In addition, it demonstrates that Murari’s novels function not only as re-interpretations of historical events but also as artistic explorations of colonialism, nationalism, love, and human experience. Finally, this article argues that Murari’s stylistic and narrative dexterity situates his fiction as an important contribution to the evolution of Indian English historical writing.
Abstract: The primary objective of this article is to examine the narrative strategies and linguistic style employed by Timeri N. Murari, a prominent author in contemporary Indian English fiction, in his three historical novels namely, Taj, The Imperial Agent, and The Last Victory. Murari redefines history and identity through an array of narrative technique...
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Research Article
Linguistic Threads: Crafting Meaning Through Cohesion and Coherence
Nwagbara Blessing Chinelo*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
47-55
Received:
21 February 2026
Accepted:
5 March 2026
Published:
22 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.cls.20261202.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: This study investigates the interplay between cohesion and coherence in discourse, examining how linguistic resources enable texts to function as unified and interpretable wholes. Grounded in Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar, with particular emphasis on the textual metafunction, the paper analyses grammatical and lexical cohesive devices in selected texts by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Purple Hibiscus and Zikora. Employing a qualitative descriptive methodology, the study identifies and categorises instances of reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunction, and lexical cohesion, demonstrating how these surface-level mechanisms establish syntactic and semantic connectivity across clauses and sentences. Beyond the identification of cohesive ties, the study interrogates how such linguistic patterns facilitate the construction of coherence. Cohesion operates through explicit textual markers that signal relationships within the discourse, coherence is conceptualised as a cognitive and interpretive achievement shaped by contextual knowledge, thematic development, and logical sequencing. The analysis reveals that cohesive devices function as guiding frameworks that structure information flow, whereas coherence emerges from the reader’s integration of these cues into a meaningful and contextually grounded interpretation. The findings affirm that cohesion and coherence are complementary yet analytically distinct processes in discourse construction. Effective meaning-making depends not solely on the presence of cohesive markers but on their interaction with interpretive processes that sustain unity and relevance. By elucidating this relationship within literary discourse, the study contributes to ongoing discussions in discourse analysis and stylistics, highlighting the centrality of cohesive strategies in enhancing textual clarity, continuity, and communicative effectiveness.
Abstract: This study investigates the interplay between cohesion and coherence in discourse, examining how linguistic resources enable texts to function as unified and interpretable wholes. Grounded in Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar, with particular emphasis on the textual metafunction, the paper analyses grammatical and lexical cohesive devices in s...
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