A pragma-stylistic study of using the present tense in narratives

Abstract EN

It is normally known that '' literary language ''is different from ordinary language ''.

That is, it is full of deviation, while Part, (1977 : 80) maintains that ordinary language ''is accompanied" by ordinary rules, and outlines the work of Grice (1975) concerning the appropriate conditions that accepting a particular illocution-conditions which language users assume to be in effect.

In this study, the present tense is not referred to as an indication to the moment of speaking or action.

Rather, in narratives, it signals that this genre is ''unmediated''.

As such, the present tense is heavily used by writers, regardless of the time being, to signify that a text can be read at any time.

Moreover, it can be noted, that the shift from the past to the simple present tense offers readers an opportunity to think seriously of what is being said.

It, thus, invites thought and suspense.

As far as the writer is concerned, it seems that the writer resorts to the simple present tense just to comment highlight and criticize some incidents or events within the story.