Tag Archives: elocutio

Antimetabole

Posted on September 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Antimetabole (an’-ti-me-ta’-bo-lee): Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order.

Sow and harvest. Harvest and sow. If you sow the seed of love, and cultivate it,  you may harvest  joy and feed your soul. When your joy is nearly all exhausted, it’s time to sow the seed of love again, and cultivate it, and help it grow.  Nurtured by the joy produced, you sow the seed of love again, and cultivate it, and harvest joy, and start all over again! Love and joy. Joy and love. You may harvest what you need from  the seed you sow.

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

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Aporia

Posted on September 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

Aporia (a-po’-ri-a): Deliberating with oneself as though in doubt over some matter; asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one’s hearers) what is the best or appropriate way to approach something [=diaporesis].

How should we approach immigration reform?

Amnesty for all?

Build a wall?

Let’s just say US immigration policy needs an overhaul!

Hey–we should give Joe Arpaio a call!

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

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Epanorthosis

Posted on September 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Epanorthosis (ep-an-or-tho’-sis): Amending a first thought by altering it to make it stronger or more vehement.

Trying to understand what’s going on in the world by consuming social media is like trying to cross a busy intersection while you’re spinning around in circles! No–it’s WORSE than that! It’s like running into a burning building to save your life!

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

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Traductio

Posted on July 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Traductio (tra-duk’-ti-o): Repeating the same word variously throughout a sentence or thought. Some authorities restrict traductio further to mean repeating the same word but with a different meaning (see ploce, antanaclasis, and diaphora), or in a different form (=polyptoton. . . . ). If the repeated word occurs in parallel fashion at the beginnings of phrases or clauses, it becomes anaphora; at the endings of phrases or clauses, epistrophe.

Hope for rain and hope will reign even if it doesn’t rain!

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

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Ominatio

Posted on July 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ominatio (o-mi-na’-ti-o): A prophecy of evil.

When the party who is to blame places the blame on those who are blameless;

When the party who is to blame willingly fails to cooperate to remedy the harm they themselves have caused;

When the party who is to blame wantonly induces and perpetuates the peoples’ painful suffering, ironically, for partisan political gain;

Then, they thwart the Peoples’ Pursuit of Happiness and dishonor Liberty’s name.

Surely, when the party who is to blame will rise to great power, it shall come to pass that the Republic’s wounds will fester and will not heal;

Surely, when the party who is to blame will rise to great power, the world will recoil in horror–shocked and awed–by the party’s psychotic pursuit of The End of Time as the preordained purpose of its reign.

Beware the Day of Election!

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

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Ecphonesis

Posted on June 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

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

Repeal it!

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

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Ampliatio

Posted on June 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ampliatio (am’-pli-a’-ti-o): Using the name of something or someone before it has obtained that name or after the reason for that name has ceased. A form of epitheton.

Even though he’s 45 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, I still call him Skinny Boy. It isn’t about his age or his height and weight, it’s about Skinny Boy and the great times we had as kids–back when, if he turned sideways and stuck out his tongue, he looked like a zipper!

. . .

Hey, Skinny Boy,  it’s great to see you again after all these years–high school was insane! What’ve you been up to? You put on a few pounds!

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

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Palilogia

Posted on June 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Palilogia (pa-li-lo’-gi-a): Repetition of the same word, with none between, for vehemence. Synonym for epizeuxis.

That’s all he wants to do: spend, spend, spend! You cannot spend your way out of a recession. It’s simple math. You must slash your way out of a recession: Taxes! Public employees! Entitlements! Slash, slash, slash! That’s the way to do it!

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

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Prozeugma

Posted on June 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Prozeugma (pro-zoog’-ma): A series of clauses in which the verb employed in the first is elided (and thus implied) in the others.

Time is consciousness of when. Space, of where. Me, of here and now.

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

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Mesozeugma

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 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.

The lunar eclipse was beautiful; the soft sound of the dan bau, the night sky, your gentle smile too. 

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

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Epiplexis

Posted on May 26, 2012 | 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.

What kind of idiot are you? Didn’t you realize that you’d get hurt if you used my chainsaw blindfolded? Where did you get the idea that doing what your stupid so-called friends dare you to do is the right thing to do? You’re lucky to be alive. I hope your foot heals soon.

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

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Coenotes

Posted on May 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Coenotes (cee’-no-tees): Repetition of two different phrases: one at the beginning and the other at the end of successive paragraphs. Note: Composed of anaphora and epistrophe, coenotes is simply a more specific kind of symploce (the repetition of phrases, not merely words).

Hear me! We have journeyed a long, long way. And, I say, we are almost home.

Hear me! Our map is faith and our hope moves our tired feet. And, I say, we are almost home.

Hear me! We are going home to the place to rest, to break bread, to call our own! I can feel it! We are almost home!

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

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Antimetabole

Posted on May 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

Antimetabole (an’-ti-me-ta’-bo-lee): Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order.

Ham and cheese. Cheese and ham. It doesn’t matter how you stack ’em, they’re gonna be a sandwich, man!

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

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Personification

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Personification: Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. The English term for prosopopeia (pro-so-po-pe’-i-a) or ethopoeia (e-tho-po’-ia): the description and portrayal of a character (natural propensities, manners and affections, etc.).

That clock on the wall knows what time it is. Pay attention to what it’s saying! It’s telling you that you better leave right now or you’ll miss your bus to Las Vegas.

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

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Hendiadys

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hendiadys (hen-di’-a-dis): Expressing a single idea by two nouns [joined by a conjunction] instead of a noun and its qualifier. A method of amplification that adds force.

Without star and spangles and spectacles, parties’ political conventions wouldn’t be political conventions. Silly hats, confetti, fog horns, and Tele-prompted speeches! That’s what it’s all about.

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

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Apocarteresis

Posted on April 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.

Once upon a time I trusted my honesty, sincerity, and goodwill to find me friends. I learned quickly that this spelled “sucker” to most of the strangers I met, and I was ripped off more times than I care to say. Now, I trust a private detective to run background checks on everybody I meet.   So far, I haven’t found any friends, but I haven’t been ripped off either!

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

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Paronomasia

Posted on April 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Paronomasia (pa-ro-no-ma’-si-a): Using words that sound alike but that differ in meaning (punning).

Buffet Rule: Just desserts.

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

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Periphrasis

Posted on April 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Periphrasis (per-if’-ra-sis): The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution); or, conversely, the use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it. (Circumlocutions are rhetorically useful as euphemisms, as a method of amplification, or to hint at something without stating it.)

Mother Romney is no Mother Theresa.  She’s no mother Hubbard either. NEVER a Ma Kettle! No my friends, if she’s anybody, she’s  a regular Olivia Walton. The only difference is that Ann has two Cadillacs & Olivia had no Cadillacs.

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

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Synonymia

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Synonymia (si-no-ni’-mi-a): In general, the use of several synonyms together to amplify or explain a given subject or term. A kind of repetition that adds emotional force or intellectual clarity. Synonymia often occurs in parallel fashion. The Latin synonym, interpretatio, suggests the expository and rational nature of this figure, while another Greek synonym, congeries, suggests the emotive possibilities of this figure.

It’s over for Rick Santorum. He is finished. His campaign is through.

Rick Santorum fought for what he believed in. He tried to sink the liberal Romney frigate. Our conservative Captain waged war until it was clear, apparent, and doubtless that he had to turn his wheel and shift his course a little to the left to win the battle for Admiral of the Republican Fleet.  He was unwilling to chart such a course, and now, continuing on his right-bound course he sails off to glory on the Conservative Tradewinds toward a safe and friendly harbor on cable TV.

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

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Bomphiologia

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bomphiologia (bom-phi-o-lo’-gi-a): Exaggeration done in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a braggart.

As a businessman I’ve done so many really wonderful things. I fired 1,000s of people. I made enough money to buy Rhode Island, and I didn’t keep all the money for myself.

Clearly my track record as a businessman qualifies me to be President of the United State of America, Inc.

Just call me “The Profit Mitt: Your Blue Chip Investment in America’s Future.”

(Oh, and by the way, don’t forget my charming smile, the attractive gray stripes on my temples, my incredibly good posture, the fact that I go to bed early every night, and last, but not least, my endearing sense of humor.)

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

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Polysyndeton

Posted on April 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Polysyndeton (pol-y-syn’-de-ton): Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. (Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton: an absence of conjunctions.)

They huffed, and puffed, and huffed, and huffed, and huffed, and puffed, and spit, and yelled, and made fair and balanced wise cracks on Fox News, and called it Obamacare, but they couldn’t blow down The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Will the Supreme Court demolish it for them?

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

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Alliteration

Posted on April 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

Alliteration (al-lit’-er-a’-tion): Repetition of the same letter or sound within nearby words. Most often, repeated initial consonants. Taken to an extreme alliteration becomes the stylistic vice of paroemion where nearly every word in a sentence begins with the same consonant.

Truth will decide what we will do, not the nodding heads of the half asleep sheep we call politicians.

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

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Isocolon

Posted on April 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon): A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.

Allegations. Threats. Misrepresentations. Your PAC is a PAC of lies.

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

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Anamnesis

Posted on March 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Anamnesis (an’-am-nee’-sis): Calling to memory past matters. More specifically, citing a past author [apparently] from memory.  Anamnesis helps to establish ethos [credibility], since it conveys the idea that the speaker is knowledgeable of the received wisdom from the past.

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.  Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.” To these three options, Camus could have added a fourth: “Betray me and these boots are going to walk all over you.” However, it wasn’t until 1966 that Nancy Sinatra made explicit and popularized this profoundly negative ‘way of walking’ in her hit song titled “These boots are made for walking.” What remains to be considered, though, is the ethical import of “walking all over” another person and whether betrayal provides justifiable ‘grounds’ for doing so.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Gorgias has inserted the bracketed words [apparently] and [credibility].

Quotation from “The Quotations Page” (quotationspage.com)

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Aporia

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Aporia (a-po’-ri-a): Deliberating with oneself as though in doubt over some matter; asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one’s hearers) what is the best or appropriate way to approach something [=diaporesis].

Forgive and forget? Forgive and regret? Where do we go from here?

Is the risk of regretting too great to bear the weight of mercy?

Forgive or regret?

Is that the question?

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

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