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See also Written discourse.

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When crafting coherent texts, understanding the concepts of theme and rheme is crucial. These linguistic elements help structure sentences in a way that makes the information flow logically and clearly for the reader. Let’s dive into what theme and rheme are, how they function, and how you can use them effectively in your writing.

What is Theme?

The theme of a sentence is the part that sets the context for the message. It is what the sentence is about and usually appears at the beginning. The theme provides the reader with a framework or a point of reference for understanding the rest of the sentence.

Example:

• Theme: “The weather”
• Sentence: “The weather has been unusually warm this October.”

In this example, “The weather” is the theme because it introduces the topic that the rest of the sentence will discuss.

What is Rheme?

The rheme is the part of the sentence that provides new information about the theme. It follows the theme and adds details, explanations, or comments.

Example:

• Rheme: “has been unusually warm this October.”
• Sentence: “The weather has been unusually warm this October.”

Here, “has been unusually warm this October” is the rheme because it gives new information about the theme, “The weather.”

The Role of Theme and Rheme in Coherence

Using theme and rheme effectively helps create coherence in your writing. Coherence refers to the logical flow and clarity of ideas in a text. When sentences are structured with a clear theme and rheme, readers can easily follow the progression of ideas.

Example:

1. Theme: “The new policy” Rheme: “will affect all employees starting next month.”
2. Theme: “All employees” Rheme: “will need to attend a training session.”

By linking the theme of the second sentence (“All employees”) to the rheme of the first sentence (“will affect all employees”), the text flows logically and coherently.