Some Facts of the Usages of Rhetorical Devices (Zeugma) In Speech and Writing

Abstract

Syntactic units, word combinations and speech fragments are used to strengthen the effect of speech during communication, and they are considered to be rhetoric figures. Such of these figures may be metaphor, anaphora, antithesis, asyndeton, inversion, metonymy, repetition, ellipsis, epiphora, zeugma, syllepsis, pun, etc. The following explanation may demonstrate the definitions of some of the rhetorical devices: a) Metaphor: It shows some comparison achieved through a figurative use of words. It also covers a word that is used not in its literal sense, but in one similar to it. The given example may illustrate our point of view: Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. (W.Shakespeare from Macbeth) b) Anaphora: It took its origin from the Greek word “carried again”. It is necessary to mention that this stylistic device may also be called epanaphora. It covers the intentional repetition of beginning clauses that to put some artistic effects on the writing or speech; it may demonstrate the repetition of words, phrases, or clauses at the beginning of word settings that are used orderly. The example used by W.Churchill once may explain its definition clearly: “We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on the end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost shall be”. (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/938857-we-shall-not-flag-nor-fail-weshall- go-n#:~:text=We%20shall%20go%20on%20to%20the%20end.,streets%20and%20on%20the%20hills).c) Antithesis: It exemplifies the arrangement of setting off words, phrases, clauses, or sentences side by side. For examples: “I burn and I freeze,’ or ‘Her character is white as sunlight, black as midnight.’ d) Asyndeton: It is used to show the absence of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words such as “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, and oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty”. (https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/inaugural-address-19610120) e) Inversion: It means the performance of converting the correct order of words for the sake of emphasis. For example: He had hardly entered the room when his wife shouted (correct word order). Hardly had he entered the room when his wife shouted (inversion). f) Metonymy: It is a figure of speech that is used to cite some objects related to that object. For example: king or queen; Black tent or Tent of Infinity for Men, etc. g) Repetition: When a word or a phrase is used many times in order to give some effect to the speech or writing, then it may be understood as repetition. It emphasizes a word or a phrase that is repeated. For example: You need to practice your daily routines over and over and over again that they become your habits. h) Ellipsis: It refers to the artful omission of a word. For instance, “The Armenian soldiers killed many women during The Khojaly massacre, and the Russian many.” i) Epiphora: This device is known to be a correct (exact) equivalent of anaphora. Anaphora means the reiteration of beginning part of sequential sentences, phrases though the reiteration of epiphora comes in the final (last) part of sequential sentences, phrases. For example: “Every day, every week, every morning, every evening she is thinking about him and getting worse and worse”. j) Zeugma: This device is spoken about and explained widely in the article, so only example is preferred to be given such as “He masters her heart and her wealth”; “Kill the enemy and the weapon”. k) Syllepsis: A word may be used with two other words in this device though each of the words is perceive variously. B. Franklin’s famous quote can be given as example of syllepsis: “We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang separately”. (Benjamin Franklin) l) Pun: In short is can be accepted as a play on two words close in sound though opposed in meaning. For example: These couple are said to have been pianists, and they had a good marriage. They are known to be in a chord. The list of the rhetorical devices may be enlarged, but it is not the aim of this article to analyze each of them. In conversation as well as in writing, each of these figures has its own purpose, place and advantages. With the presence of a rhetorical figure, which can be observed with a wide advantage in both writing and speech, especially in writing and artistic style, it seems that writing and speech are given an image, liveliness, and a clear understanding. In order to distinguish the meanings and the purposes of these devices, it is necessary to analyze some of them.