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Mysterious symbols in ancient texts: What is the origin of the ellipsis?
Ellipsis (...) is a widely used punctuation mark, and its origin and development are full of mystery and question marks. This simple but meaningful symbol consists of three dots, and its most basic use is to indicate some kind of linguistic omission. People may wonder, where do these little dots come from?
The ancient roots of the ellipsis can be traced to usage in ancient Greek texts, where literati used the symbol to indicate omission or incompleteness of meaning.
The ellipses appear differently according to many style guides. For example, the Chicago Manual recommends that an ellipsis should consist of three dots, with a continuous space between each dot (. . .). The "Associated Press Style Manual" requires that there be no spaces between points, and it is simply presented as three consecutive points (...). These details in printed materials will affect the readability and clarity of the article.
In some cases, if a sentence ends with an ellipsis, some style guides recommend that four points should be used: three ellipses and a period.
Historically, the use of ellipses in literary works has become more common over time. According to research by Anne Toner, the earliest occurrence of ellipsis in English literature was in 1588, when Maurice Kiffin first used this punctuation mark in his translation of Talens' Andrea. Although the symbol used was not the familiar dot but the dash, this innovation paved the way for later literature.
The popularity of ellipsis is not limited to the literary world, it has gradually become commonly used in drama and other literary genres. Similar usage occurs in Shakespeare's works, symbolizing emotional rupture and suspense on stage.
Over time, the use of ellipsis has become more diverse. It can be used not only to indicate interruptions in speech, missing words, but also to hint at the speaker's emotional state, such as nostalgia, reflection, or even depression. In poetry, ellipses are often used to establish rhythm or enhance the emotional tension of language.
In news reports, ellipses are used to shorten quoted content to better direct the reader's attention.
There are also significant differences in the use of ellipses in different languages. For example, in English, ellipsis is usually used to represent missing words or to indicate an unfinished sentence, but in other languages (such as Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish), ellipsis also assumes different semantics and functions. Each language assigns different emotions and uses to the ellipsis according to its cultural background, so this symbol has a unique place in languages around the world.
Then, the ellipses’ diverse uses and complex cultural roots make us wonder in daily communication: Is this small symbol a reflection of the diversity of human emotions and thoughts?
