cataphora (n.)

A term used by some GRAMMARIANS for the process or result of a LINGUISTIC UNIT referring forward to another unit. Cataphoric reference is one way of marking the identity between what is being expressed and what is about to be expressed: for example, I said this/the following . . . , where the meaning of this and the following must be specified in the subsequent CONTEXT. Here is the 9 o’clock news shows the cataphoric function of here. Cataphoric words (or ‘substitutes’) are usually contrasted with ANAPHORIC words (which refer backwards), and sometimes with EXOPHORIC words (which refer directly to the EXTRALINGUISTIC SITUATION).