This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted role that temporal deixis plays in literary discourse, with particular focus on its stylistic and narrative functions. The study advances the argument that temporal deictic expressions in literary texts are far more than simple indicators of chronological time; rather, they function as essential and sophisticated devices for structuring narrative progression, shaping reader perspective, managing textual coherence, and influencing the overall interpretation of literary works. Through detailed analysis of carefully selected literary examples drawn from various genres and periods, this study demonstrates the specific ways in which temporal deixis contributes to fundamental aspects of literary discourse including textual coherence, emotional intensity, narrative pacing, and the construction of complex temporal structures. The findings strongly suggest that temporal deixis should be recognized as a key element in the overall organization and aesthetic effect of literary discourse, deserving systematic attention in both linguistic and literary analysis.
Nargiza Turayevna Nomozova (Tue,) studied this question.