Interaction of Logical
and Emotive Meaning
Stylistics
Dr. Alfadil altahir
2014
27-Dec15
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3. Interaction of Logical and
Emotive Meaning
Interjections and Exclamatory Words:
Interjections are words we use when
we express our feelings strongly and
which may be said to exist in language
as conventional symbols of human
emotions.
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In traditional grammars the interjection is
regarded as a part of speech. But there is
another view which regards the interjection
as a sentence.
However a close investigation proves that
interjection is a word with strong emotive
meaning.
e. g. Oh, where are you going to, all you Big
Steamers?
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The interjection oh, by itself may
express various feelings such as regret,
despair, disappointment, sorrow,
surprise
and
many
others.
Interjections can be divided into
primary and derivative.
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Primary interjections are generally
devoid of any logical meaning.
Interjections such as: Heavens! Good
gracious! God knows! Bless me! are
exclamatory words generally used as
interjections.
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It must be noted that some adjectives
and adverbs can also take on the
function of interjections - such as
terrible! awfully! great! wonderful!
splendid! These adjectives acquire
strong emotional colouring and are
equal in force to interjections.
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Epithet
Epithet is an adjective or adjective phrase
appropriately qualifying a subject (noun) by
naming a key or important characteristic of
the subject, as in:
"laughing happiness," "sneering contempt,“
Expressive of contempt "untroubled sleep,"
"peaceful dawn," and "life-giving water."
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Sometimes a metaphorical epithet
will be good to use, as in:
"lazy road," "tired landscape,"
"smirking billboards,"
Smile
affectedly or derisively "anxious
apple."
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Aptness and brilliant effectiveness
are the key considerations in
choosing epithets. Be fresh, seek
striking images, pay attention to
connotative value.
Appropriateness for the occasion
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Transferred Epithet
A transferred epithet is an adjective
modifying a noun which it does not
normally modify, but which makes
figurative sense:
 At
length I heard a ragged noise and
mirth of thieves and murderers . . . .
--George Herbert
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 Blind
mouths! that scarce
themselves know how to hold /
A sheep hook .
. . . --John Milton
 In an age of pressurized
happiness, we sometimes grow
insensitive to subtle joys.
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Oxymoron
Oxymoron is a combination of two words
in which the meaning is opposite in sense.
e. g. speaking silence, cold fire, living
death.
Close to oxymoron is paradox - a
statement that is absurd on the surface.
e.g. War is peace. The worse - the better.
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Oxymoron is a paradox reduced
to two words, usually in an
adjectivenoun
("eloquent
silence")
or
adverb-adjective
("inertly strong") relationship, and
is used for effect, complexity,
emphasis, or wit:
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4. Interaction of Logical and
Nominative Meaning
Antonomasia. It is the result of
interaction between logical and
nominal meaning of a word.
1) When the proper name of a
person, who is famous for some
reasons, is put for a person having the
same feature.
e.g. Her husband is a Casanova .
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2) A common noun is used
instead of a proper name, e. g.
I agree with you Mr. Logic,
e.g. My Dear Simplicity.
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Intensification of a Feature
Simile. The intensification of
some feature of the concept is
realized in a device called simile.
Similes set one object against
another regardless of the fact
that they may be completely
alien to each other.
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The simile gives rise to a new
understanding of the object. The
properties of an object maybe viewed
from different angles, i. e. its state, its
actions, manners. Accordingly, similes
may be based on adjective - attributes,
adverb - modifiers, verb - predicates
etc.
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Similes have formal elements in
their structure: connective words
such as: like, as, such as, as if and
seem.
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Simile
Simile is a comparison between two
different things that resemble each
other in at least one way. In formal
prose the simile is a device both of art
and explanation, comparing an
unfamiliar thing to some familiar thing
(an object, event, process, etc.) known
to the reader.
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When you compare a noun to a noun, the simile
is usually introduced by like:

I see men, but they look like trees, walking. -Mark 8:24

After such long exposure to the direct sun, the
leaves of the houseplant looked like pieces of
overcooked bacon.

The soul in the body is like a bird in a cage.
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When a verb or phrase is compared to a
verb or phrase, as is used:

They remained constantly attentive to
their goal, as a sunflower always
turns and stays focused on the sun.

Here is your pencil and paper. I want
you to compete as the greatest hero
would in the race of his life.
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Often the simile--the object or
circumstances of imaginative identity
(called the vehicle, since it carries or
conveys a meaning about the word or
thing which is likened to it)-precedes the
thing likened to it (the tenor). In such
cases, so usually shows the comparison:
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The grass bends with every
wind; so does Harvey.
 The seas are quiet when
the winds give o're; / So calm
are we when passions are no
more. --Edmund Waller

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But sometimes the so is
understood
rather
than
expressed:
 As wax melts before the
fire,/ may the wicked perish
before God. –Psalm 68:2b
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Periphrasis
Periphrasis - is a round - about
way of speaking used to name
some object or phenomenon.
Longer-phrase is used instead of
a shorter one. Some periphrasis
are traditional.
e. g. The fair sex.
My better half.
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Periphrasis are divided into:
1. Logical - based on inherent properties of a thing.
e. g. Instrument of destruction,
the object of administration.
2. Figurative - based on imagery: metaphor,
metonymy
e. g. To tie a knot = to get married;
in disgrace of fortune = bad luck.
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Euphemism

Euphemism is used to avoid some unpleasant things,
or taboo things.
e. g. To pass away =to die.
 Downsizing = (retrenching employees) Make a reduction,

as in one's workforce
mentally challenged = (mentally retarded )
 collateral damage = (killing of innocent civilians in
war)

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Hyperbole
Hyperbole is deliberate overstatement
or exaggeration, the aim of which is to
intensify one of the features of the
object in question to such a degree as
to show its utter absurdity.
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Like many SDs, hyperbole may lose its
quality as a SD through frequent repetition
and become a unit of the language as a
system, reproduced in speech in its
unaltered form. Here there are some
examples:
e. g. A thousand pardons,
scared to death,
immensely obliged.
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Peculiar Use of Set Expressions
Cliché is a trite or obvious remark
A cliché is generally defined as an
expression
that
has
become
hackneyed and trite. It has lost its
precise
meaning
by
constant
reiteration: in other words it has
become stereotyped.
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Cliché is a kind of stable word
combination which has become
familiar and which has been accepted
as a unit of a language
e. g. rosy dreams of youth, growing
awareness.
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Proverbs
are
short,
well-known,
supposedly wise sayings, usually in simple
language.
e.g. Never say never. You can't get blood
of a stone.
Proverbs are expressions of culture that
are passed from generation to generation.
They are words of wisdom of culturelessons that people of that culture want
their children to learn and to live by.
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They are served as some symbols,
abstract ideas. Proverbs are
usually dedicated and involve
imagery. e.g. Out of sight, out of
mind.
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Epigram
Epigram
is a short clever
amusing saying or poem.
 e.g. A thing of beauty is a
joy forever.
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Quotation
Quotation is a phrase or sentence
taken from a work of literature or
other piece of writing and
repeated in order to prove a point
or support an idea. They are
marked graphically: by inverted
commas: dashes, italics.
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Allusion
Allusion is an indirect reference, by
word or phrase, to a historical.
literary, mythological fact or to a fact
of everyday life made in the course of
speaking or writing. The use of
allusion presupposes knowledge of the
fact, thing oк person alluded to on
the part of the reader or listener.
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