Lecture the nature, types and functions of lexical stylistic devices: hyperbole, antonomasia, zeugma and pun

The main stylistic function of hyperbole is to express emotions .In hyperbole the emotive meaning usually dominates over the logical one.

e.g. I would give worlds to see you

I would give the world to find you a pin.

Hyperbole is widely used in the oral type of speech .The speaker uses hyperbole to make his speech vivid and convincing:

e.g. I had to drag it out of him .

It seems ages since we had a real talk.

ANTONOMASIA

Antonomasia is a SD based on interaction of logical and nominal meanings of the word. We called him Mr. Know-all and he took it as a compliment

Two types of Antonomasia can be distinguished:

Proper nouns are used as notional words:

Every Caesar has his Brutus. Shakespeare of our days.

This type of Antonomasia is usually trite because the proper noun here has fixed logical associations between the name itself and the qualities of its bearer, which may occur only as a result of long and frequent usage. (He is a Don Juan)

ANTONOMASIA

A common noun or a word-combination of a descriptive character instead of a proper noun. The second type of Antonomasia is a unique creation.

e.g. “Rest, my dear,-rest. That’s one of the most important things. There are three doctors in an illness like yours”,-he laughed in anticipation of his own joke. I don’t mean only myself, my partner and the radiologist who does your X-rays, the three Fm referring to are Dr. Rest, Dr. Diet and Dr. Fresh Air ”.

This type of Antonomasia is very widely used in so called nicknames. Antonomasia is a much favoured device in the belles-lettres style. Sometimes the author gives the character a name which defines the personality of the character Mr. Murdstone, Scrooge, Miss Sharp.

ANTONOMASIA

Antonomasia can be expressed by almost all parts of speech, even by interjection.

The use of antonomasia is now not confined to the belles-lettres style. It is often found in the publicist style and newspapers style.