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The stylistic device of periphrasis




(Gr. periphrazein ‘to express in a roundabout way’: peri – round + phrazein – ‘to show, to say’) is a roundabout way used to name some object or phenomenon. The other term for it is circumlocution.

E.g. the attacking force (for a gang, a band). (O’Henry)

Periphrasis is a description of what could be named directly by a possible shorter and plainer wording;

it is naming the characteristic features of the object instead of naming the object itself.

Thus, it is akin to metonymy.

The difference between periphrasis and metonymy is that the former is always a phrase, i.e. consists of more than one word.

E.g. a thriller (for an exciting book) – metonymy, two hundred pages of blood-curdling narrative (for an exciting book) – periphrasis.

Periphrases can also be genuine (real, artistic, etc.), and trite (traditional, stereotyped, dictionary, etc.).

E.g. instruments of pleasure (for women). (Maugham)

The stylistic effect (function) of periphrasis varies from elevation to humour and irony.

Periphrasis can be divided into 3 types:

1. Logical periphrasis – based on inherent properties of a thing.

E.g. He looked again at the poor dead thing that had been man, and then he started back in dismay. (Maugham)

2. Figurative (imaginative) periphrasis – based on imagery (usu. a metaphor or a metonymy).

E.g. a chevalier of fortune or chevalier of industry (for all sorts of adventurers and swindlers; for bandits). (O’Henry), 

3. Euphemistic periphrasis.

The origin of the term 'euphemism' discloses the aim of the device very clearly, i.e. ‘speaking well’ (Gr. eu – ‘well’ + pheme ‘speaking’).

It implies the social practice of replacing the tabooed words or coarse expressions by conventionally more acceptable words and phrases that seem less categoric, milder, more harmless (or at least less offensive).

E.g. the word to die has the following euphemisms: to pass away, to expire, to be no more, to depart, to join the majority, to be gone, to kick the bucket, to give up the ghost, to go west.

Euphemism is a term of speech ethics that is sometimes figuratively called ‘a whitewashing device’. 

 Euphemisms may be divided into several groups according to their spheres of application.

The most recognized types are the following: 1) religious, 2) moral, 3) medical, and 4) parliamentary and political.

 E.g. a garbage man – is today substituted for a sanitation worker;

    having sexual intercourse with – making love to, sleeping with;

    crippled and handicapped – disabled;

    undeveloped countries – developing.

The abundant use of periphrastic and euphemistic expressions is a sign of periphrastic or euphemistic style of expression which at times becomes a norm and a requirement.

E.g. a colourful personality (for an excessively eccentric person).

 

The stylistic device of irony and hyperbole

Hyperbole. (Gk. hyperbolē ‘excess’) is a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement of a feature (quantity, size, etc.) essential to the object.

E.g. I am dying of hunger (exaggerated feelings).

Hyperbole differs from a mere exaggeration intended to be understood as an exaggeration.

Y.M. Skrebnev points out there must be something illogical in hyperbole, something unreal, impossible, contrary to common sense.

The logical and psychological opposite of hyperbole is meiosis. It is lessening, weakening, reducing the real characteristics of the object of speech to mean the opposite of what is said.

E.g. It will cost you a pretty penny (a large sum of money is implimed).

Meiosis should not be confused with a variant of hyperbole, i.e. understatement: when the object spoken about is really small or insignificant, and the expression used to denote it strengthens, exaggerates and emphasizes its smallness and insignificance.

 E.g. a cat-size pony (= a very small pony), a drop of water (= not much water).

 Meiosis is typical of the British manner of speech, in opposition to American English in which hyperbole seems to prevail.

E.g. An English girl and an American girl climb a steep mountain in the Alps. The English girl says: It's a bit exhausting, isn't it? The American echoes: Why, sure, it's terrific!!!

Function. Hyperbole adds dramatic force or attributes a humorous or even ironical sounding.

Many hyperboles have become trite.

E.g. A thousand pardons.

   Haven't seen you for ages!

Irony.

Irony is based on the contrast between the literal (dictionary) meaning and the intended meaning: one thing is said and the opposite is implied. Irony is generally used to convey a negative meaning (ridicule, contempt) though only positive concepts may be used in it.

E.g. ‘God damn my wife. She is an excellent woman. I wish she was in hell.’ (Maugham)

Very seldom the opposite type of irony where ‘blame stands for praise’ is observed: coarse and accusing words are used approvingly.

E.g. Clever bastard! Lucky devil!

Besides, Y.M. Skrebnev distinguishes 2 kinds of ironic utterances:

explicit ironical, which no one would take at their face value due to the situation, tune and structure; implicit ironical, when the ironical message is communicated against a wider context. In oral speech, irony is often made prominent by emphatic intonation.

In writing, the most typical signs are graphical, like inverted commas or italics.

Irony can be understood from the context without any special graphical indication.

Irony must not be confused with humour, although they have much in common.

One of the functions of irony is producing a humorous effect.

But unlike humour that always causes laughter, that is friendly and positive by its character, irony presupposes critical evaluation of the thing spoken about and expresses ridicule, mockery or contempt.

An ironic effect is frequently achieved by the mixture of styles: the use of the high-flown style on socially low and insignificant topics or in a friendly talk, etc.

 










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