gap-sentence\ link

a way of connecting two sentences seemingly unconnected and leaving it to the reader's perspicacity to grasp the idea implied, but not worded

She and that fellow ought to be the sufferers, and they were in Italy. (J.Galsworthy)

(the second part, which is hooked on to the first by the conjunction and, seems to be unmotivated or, in other words, the whole sentence seems to be logically incoherent. But this is only the first impression. After a more careful supralinear semantic analysis it becomes clear that the exact logical variant of the utterance would be: 'Those who ought to suffer were enjoining themselves in Italy')

- is generally indicated by and or but

- the omissions are justified because the situation easily prompts what has not been said

- is based on the peculiarities of the spoken language and is therefore most frequently used in represented speech

- has various functions: it may serve to signal the introduction of inner represented speech, it nay be used to indicate a subjective evaluation of the facts; it may introduce an effect resulting from a cause which has already had verbal expression;

- displays and unexpected coupling of ideas;

- aims at stirring up in the reader's mind the suppositions, associations and conditions under which the sentence uttered can really exist

She says nothing, but it is clear that she is harping on this engagement, and - goodness know what. (J.Galsworthy)

It was an afternoon to dream. And she took out Jon's letters. (J.Galsworthy)

Source: I.R.G.

See: types of connection