SEMINAR 8.

STYLISTIC MEANS AND DEVICES

Items for Discussion

1.Stylistics as a Branch of Linguistics

Definition and Scope:

Stylistics is the study of linguistic styles, focusing on how language is used in various contexts,
especially in literature.

It examines how the choice of words, sentence structures, and linguistic devices contribute to the
effectiveness, beauty, and expressiveness of communication.

Interdisciplinary Nature:

Stylistics intersects with literary criticism, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, offering
insights into how language reflects and shapes social and cultural identities.

Analytical Techniques:

It involves analyzing texts to understand the effect of various linguistic features, such as syntax,
diction, tone, and voice.

The analysis often includes looking at figurative language, rhetorical devices, narrative
techniques, and the overall text structure.

Purpose and Application:

The primary goal is to understand how specific language features create meaning, evoke
emotions, and influence the reader's interpretation.

Stylistics can be applied to various genres, including poetry, prose, drama, and even non-literary
texts, to examine how language contributes to their thematic and aesthetic qualities.

Practical Implications:

Understanding stylistic choices helps in the teaching of literature and language, enabling students
to appreciate and interpret texts more deeply.

In creative writing, it guides writers in making effective linguistic choices to engage their
audience and convey their intended message.

2. Stylistic Expressive Means and Devices

These are tools used in language to give expressiveness, emphasis, and clarity, often employed in
literary and poetic contexts.

2.1. Phonetic Expressive Means and Stylistic Devices

Definition: These involve the use of sounds to create a stylistic effect.
Examples: Alliteration (repetition of initial consonant sounds), assonance (repetition of vowel
sounds), onomatopoeia (words imitating sounds), and rhythm.

2.2. Graphic Expressive Means and Stylistic Devices

Definition: Use of visual elements in written language for emphasis or artistic effect.
Examples: Typography (bold, italics), punctuation (ellipsis, exclamation marks), and layout (line
breaks, paragraph spacing).

2.3. Lexico-semantic Stylistic Devices

2.3.1. Stylistic Devices of Substitution:

Definition: Replacing one element with another to create a stylistic effect.
Examples: Metaphor (implied comparison), simile (explicit comparison using 'like' or 'as'),
metonymy (substituting a word with a related concept), synecdoche (using a part to represent the
whole).

2.3.2. Stylistic Devices of Combination:

Definition: Combining words in a particular way for a stylistic purpose.
Examples: Oxymoron (combining contradictory terms), antithesis (contrasting ideas), paradox (a
statement that appears self-contradictory).

2.4. Syntactic Stylistic Devices

Definition: These involve the arrangement of words and phrases to create a stylistic effect.
Examples: Parallelism (using elements of similar structure in succession), inversion (reversing
the normal word order), ellipsis (omitting parts of a sentence), rhetorical questions.

Exercise 1: Examples of Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia involves words that imitate the natural sounds they represent.

Buzzing: Imitates the sound of bees.

Whispered: Represents a soft speaking sound.
Splish! Splash!: Imitates the sound of water.
Gasping: Imitates the sound of heavy breathing.
Susurration: Imitates a whispering or rustling sound.

Exercise 2: Functions and Types of Graphical Expressive Means

These involve the visual representation of sounds or emphasis in writing.
Extended vowels ("oo-oo-oo"): Indicate prolonged sound or singing.
Capitalization ("ALL"): Emphasizes excitement or importance.
Dash (–): Indicates a pause or break in thought.

Exercise 3: Figures of Substitution

This involves replacing a word with another to create a stylistic effect.
Metaphor (hungry love): Personifies love as having an appetite.
Metaphor (empty shell): Likens the Embassy to a hollow object.
Metaphor (moth): Compares Mary to a moth.
Metonymy (moustaches and beards): Represents men by their facial hair.
Personification (music bellowing): Music is given a human action.
Metaphor (rainy day from the womb): Personifies the day.
Metonymy (a Picasso, Van Dycks): Art pieces representing artists.
Simile (smile like an alligator): Compares a smile to an alligator.
Hyperbole (aunts a thousand years old): Exaggerates age.
Litotes (not unwise): Double negative to affirm.
Metaphor (lipsticky smile): Smile described by lipstick.
Metaphor (size of a peanut): Exaggerates small size.
Personification (belief in brains and hearts): Abstract concept given human qualities.
Metaphor (England's eyes): Personifies locations as body parts.
Metaphor (Caesar and Brutus): Historical reference to betrayal.

Exercise 4: Recognizing and Classifying Metaphors

Metaphors involve an implicit comparison between two unlike things.
Protective metaphor: Becky under his wing.
Personification: Spring with sweet fresh air.
Metaphor: Familiar with the geography of the house.
Metaphor: Newgate stands in the midst of noise.
Metaphor: Sight taking attention.
Metaphor: Ghost of a smile.
Personification: Time with a cruel soul.
Metaphor: Jeff as Sherlock Holmes.
Personification: Stars dancing.
Metaphor: Cup of satisfaction.

Exercise 5: Figures of Combination

These involve combining words in a unique way to create a stylistic effect.
Antithesis and Parallelism: Contrasting bandages and reputations.
Simile: Benny compared to a hungry cat.
Simile: Resemblance to a captive owl.
Ellipsis: Skipping days in sequence.
Simile: Poor as a church mouse.
Antithesis: Saint in public, devil at home.
Asyndeton: List of adjectives.
Metaphor: Paying debts like feeding a dog.
Antithesis: Spring of hope, winter of despair.
Repetition and Alliteration: Sweet story, singularly sweet.

Exercise 6: Syntactic Stylistic Devices

These involve the arrangement of words and phrases for stylistic effect.
Ellipsis: Omitting parts of the sentence.
Anadiplosis: Repeating words in successive clauses.
Ellipsis: Omitting parts for emphasis.
Gradation: Sequence of increasingly intense scenarios.
Repetition: Emphasizing each adjective.
Rhetorical Question: To enhance emotional intensity.
Asyndeton: Listing without conjunctions.
Parallelism: Balanced structure.
Anaphora: Repeating phrases at the beginning of sentences.
Epiphora: Repeating phrases at the end of sentences.
Anaphora: Repetition at the beginning of each sentence.
Anadiplosis and Polysyndeton: Repeated structure and use of conjunctions.
Enumeration: Listing characteristics.
Repetition: Exploring different spaces.
Anaphora: Repetition at the start of lines.
Gradation and Anaphora: Increasing intensity.
Antithesis: Contrasting ideas.
Anaphora and Rhetorical Question: Repetition and questioning.