Ecphonesis

Posted on December 12, 2007 | Leave a comment

Ecphonesis (ec-pho-nee’-sis): An emotional exclamation.

Wow! What a beautiful day!

  • Post your own ecphonesis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in ecphonesis

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Epergesis

Posted on December 11, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epergesis (e-per-gee’-sis): Interposing an apposition, often in order to clarify what has just been stated.

I saw you right over there, that is, in my office, rummaging through my desk. What were you looking for?

  • Post your own epergesis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in epergesis

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Dialogismus

Posted on December 10, 2007 | Leave a comment

Dialogismus (di-a-lo-giz’-mus): Speaking as someone else, either to bring in others’ points of view into one’s own speech, or to conduct a pseudo-dialog through taking up an opposing position with oneself.

When I was a little boy, right before he died, the last thing my Grandpa said to me was, “You better go to school. School is good for you.” So I went to school. I went, and I went, and I went; and I graduated, and I graduated, and I graduated. Education saved my life. Grandpa was right. Thanks Grandpa! Thanks for the great advice!

So, I want to say to you, even though I’m not your grandpa: You better go to school. School is good for you. Take it from me, education will save your life.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in dialogismus

Tagged , , , , ,

Antisthecon

Posted on December 9, 2007 | Leave a comment

Antisthecon (an-tis’-the-con): Substitution of one sound, syllable, or letter for another within a word. A kind of metaplasm: the general term for changes to word spelling.

He was a self-proclaimed “dangerous punslinger” whose aim was quite atrocious.  The best way to deal with him was to duck out of the conversation before he started randomly firing off his annoying puns. 

  • Post your own antisthecon on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in antisthecon

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Epicrisis

Posted on December 8, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epicrisis (e-pi-cri’-sis): When a speaker quotes a certain passage and makes comment upon it.

Related figures: anamenesis–calling to memory past matters. More specifically, citing a past author from memory–and chreia (from the Greek chreiodes, “useful”) . . . “a brief reminiscence referring to some person in a pithy form for the purpose of edification.” It takes the form of an anecdote that reports either a saying, an edifying action, or both.

At Gettysburg, it was Abraham Lincoln’s earnest hope that “this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”  This hope is alive today–especially as we wind our way, as a nation, toward the upcoming presidential elections. As candidates vie for our attention and for our votes, we should ask at the close of every one of their speeches: “What would Abraham Lincoln say about their resolve–their desire–to listen to the people’s voice?” For every election is underwritten by our deep faith in the people’s voice–in the collective good will and dignity of the people, and the desire of the people, as far as they are people, for liberty and justice and peace and prosperity–the soul of the Republic and the substance of our humanity.

  • Post your own epicrisis on the “Comments” page!

Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in epicrisis

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Amphibologia

Posted on December 7, 2007 | Leave a comment

Amphibologia (am’-fi-bo-lo’-gi-a): Ambiguity of grammatical structure, often occasioned by mispunctuation. [A vice of ambiguity.]

Barny fed his dog Eddie.

  • Post your own amphibolgia on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in amphibolgia

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Dianoea

Posted on December 6, 2007 | Leave a comment

Dianoea (di-a-noe’-a): The use of animated questions and answers in developing an argument (sometimes simply the equivalent of anthypophora).

Have no fear hubby’s here! And well . . . What did I do on Friday? I went to the mall for four hours! What did I do on Saturday? I made reservations for dinner at your favorite restaurant! What about Sunday? I contacted all your friends to invite them over tonight. And how about right now? I made you breakfast in bed (with this juicy little Rolex on the side)! You are my number one! There’s no way I want it any other way. You are the love of my life! You are the best! Happy birthday dear wife! Today’s your day! Your wish is my command.

  • Post your own dianoea on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in dianoea

Tagged , , , , , ,

Systrophe

Posted on December 4, 2007 | Leave a comment

Systrophe (si’-stro-fee): The listing of many qualities or descriptions of someone or something, without providing an explicit definition.

Human beings are complicated creatures! How caring, how filled with rage, how attentive, how lost in space, how loyal, how unfaithful, how obedient, how rebellious, how generous, how stingy–how completely dialectical–how vexed, how mercurial!

  • Post your own systrophe on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in systrophe

Tagged , , , , , ,

Ellipsis

Posted on December 2, 2007 | Leave a comment

Ellipsis (el-lip’-sis): Omission of a word or short phrase easily understood in context.

I gave a book to my daughter and my daughter, a book to me!

  • Post your own ellipsis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in ellipsis

Tagged , , , , , ,

Mesozeugma

Posted on December 1, 2007 | Leave a comment

Mesozeugma (me’-so-zyoog’-ma): A zeugma in which one places a common verb for many subjects in the middle of a construction.

Neither hope nor fear could move her; neither bright promises nor beligerent threats.

  • Post your own mesozeugma on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in mesozeugma

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Diasyrmus

Posted on November 30, 2007 | Leave a comment

Diasyrmus (di’-a-syrm-os): Rejecting an argument through ridiculous comparison.

Letting your kids roam the streets at night so they can “learn about life” is like putting herbicides on your garden to make it grow!

  • Post your own diasyrmus on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in diasyrmus

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Brachylogia

Posted on November 29, 2007 | Leave a comment

Brachylogia (brach-y-lo’-gi-a): The absence of conjunctions between single words. Compare asyndeton. The effect of brachylogia is a broken, hurried delivery.

Love, hate, fear, joy, anger, pity, hope, guilt, disgust–all banging together in his pulsing head. He was flipping out! He needed more than a vacation–he needed a medical leave.

  • Post your own brachylogia on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in brachylogia

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Merismus

Posted on November 28, 2007 | Leave a comment

Merismus (mer-is’-mus): The dividing of a whole into its parts.

The USA is made up of states, counties, parishes, townships, towns, cities, neighborhoods & more–so much more!

  • Post your own merismus on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in merismus

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Simile

Posted on November 27, 2007 | Leave a comment

Simile (si’-mi-lee): An explicit comparison, often (but not necessarily) employing “like” or “as.”

He was so closed-minded that trying to get him to change his mind was like trying to push an armored car up a hill with a lawn tractor.

  • Post your own simile on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in simile

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Comparatio

Posted on November 27, 2007 | Leave a comment

Comparatio (com-pa-ra’-ti-o): A general term for a comparison, either as a figure of speech or as an argument. More specific terms are generally employed, such as metaphor, simile, allegory, etc.

Every time I see you I feel like we’re in some kind of video game that we don’t know how to play.

  • Post your own comparatio on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in comparatio

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Prolepsis

Posted on November 26, 2007 | Leave a comment

Prolepsis (pro-lep’-sis):  (1) A synonym for procatalepsis [refuting anticipated objections];  (2) speaking of something future as though already done or existing. A figure of anticipation.

1. They’re going to say we don’t have the resources–the experiential and material capital to pull this one off. Well, I say, we’ve accomplished similar goals–even more challenging goals–in the past. Remember the Foster deal? Complicated!  But it came off like clockwork! We made a bundle and everybody was happy. And moreover, as far as the money goes, we’ve always managed to raise the funds we need to finance our ventures. Remember how quickly we secured financing for the Panama project? What about the 600 cargo containers for the Singapore deal? Let’s not forget the oyster farm! We’re all over the map–but all roads lead back to due diligence, well-calculated risks, and happy investors.  Come on–let’s go for it!

2. I can’t believe you told her about last night. My Spam is fried. The end. That’s it. We’re through.

  • Post your own prolepsis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in prolepsis

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Consonance

Posted on November 25, 2007 | Leave a comment

Consonance: The repetition of consonants in words stressed in the same place (but whose vowels differ). Also, a kind of inverted alliteration, in which final consonants, rather than initial or medial ones, repeat in nearby words. Consonance is more properly a term associated with modern poetics than with historical rhetorical terminology.

The dried hard bud will never blossom–caught in time–somehow dead and alive all-at-once: like a memory, like a broken promise; a broken promise I can’t forget.

  • Post your own consonance on the “Comments” page!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in consonance

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Adianoeta

Posted on November 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

Adianoeta: An expression that, in addition to an obvious meaning, carries a second, subtle meaning (often at variance with the ostensible meaning).

He fielded the line drive with his nose.

  • Post your own adianoeta on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in adianoeta

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Syllepsis

Posted on November 23, 2007 | Leave a comment

Syllepsis (sil-lep’-sis): When a single word that governs or modifies two or more others must be understood differently with respect to each of those words. A combination of grammatical parallelism and semantic incongruity, often with a witty or comical effect. Not to be confused with zeugma: [a general term describing when one part of speech (most often the main verb, but sometimes a noun) governs two or more other parts of a sentence (often in a series)].

You broke my heart and my i-phone–what’s next, my leg?

  • Post your own syllepsis on the “Comment” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in syllepsis

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Congeries

Posted on November 22, 2007 | Leave a comment

Congeries (con’ger-eez): Piling up words of differing meaning but for a similar emotional effect [(akin to climax)].

You are my generous, intelligent, kind, creative, loving, self-confident buddy! My child! My daughter! My rainbow!

  • Post your own congeries on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in congeries

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alleotheta

Posted on November 21, 2007 | Leave a comment

Alleotheta (al-le-o-the’-ta): Substitution of one case, gender, mood, number, tense, or person for another. Synonymous with enallage. [Some rhetoricians claim that alleotheta is a] general category that includes antiptosis [(a type of enallage in which one grammatical case is substituted for another)] and all forms of enallage [(the substitution of grammatically different but semantically equivalent constructions)].

The tree was hit by the car.  Or, did the tree hit the car? Ask an insurance adjuster–they know everything about accidents (and grammar too)!

  • Post your own alleotheta on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in alleotheta

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Conduplicatio

Posted on November 20, 2007 | Leave a comment

Conduplicatio (con-du-pli-ca’-ti-o): The repetition of a word or words. A general term for repetition sometimes carrying the more specific meaning of repetition of words in adjacent phrases or clauses. Sometimes used to name either ploce or epizeuxis.

Sometimes it’s worth it to take a risk. Often a risk is not worth taking. Do you really want to take this risk?

  • Post your own conduplicatio on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in conduplicatio

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Epiplexis

Posted on November 19, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epiplexis (e-pi-plex’-is): Asking questions in order to chide, to express grief, or to inveigh. A kind of rhetorical question[–the speaker does not expect an answer].

Why did you drink and drive? Why did you get behind the wheel? Even if you don’t care about yourself, don’t you care about your friends who you could’ve killed? What are we going to do with you? Out of jail on $1,000 bail. Don’t you think you’ve really gone over the top this time? Underage drinking! DWI! Go to your room! We’ll talk about this in the morning.

  • Post your own epiplexis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

Leave a comment

Posted in epiplexis

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Epizeuxis

Posted on November 18, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epizeuxis (e-pi-zook’-sis): Repetition of words with no others between, for vehemence or emphasis.

You are nothing but trouble–trouble, trouble, trouble!

  • Post your own epizeuxis on the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

Leave a comment

Posted in epizeuxis

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Dendrographia

Posted on November 17, 2007 | Leave a comment

Dendographia (den-dro-graf’-ia): Creating an illusion of reality through vivid description of a tree.

Driving alone along the winding country road–early morning–late autumn–just snowed–there’s an apple tree off in an overgrown abandoned field–unprotected, unpruned; abandoned like the field, but still faithful to the season set with bright red apples–untouched, untended, twisted gray & groping old tree–but red, red, red, red–too many pretty apples to count, too much left unsaid.

  • Post your own dendrographia to the “Comments” page!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

Leave a comment

Posted in dendrographia

Tagged , , , , , ,