Linguistic Phenomena/Devices

This is a list of some of the lesser known linguistic phenomena and devices used in English writing. You actually know what most of these are, you just didn't know what they were called. The list doesn't include the well-known devices (like synonym or metaphor). I've also left out extremely rare or poetic devices (like hypallage) and terms referring to common linguistic errors (like anacoluthon), although the line between device and error is sometimes a blurry one. The list does include some interesting linguistic phenomena that account for word formation, etc.

References:

FOWLER, HENRY W. (1984). A Dictionary of Modern English Usage: Second Edition (revised by Sir Ernest Gowers). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

MILLER, GEORGE A., ed. (1990). "WordNet: An On-Line Lexical Database". International Journal of Lexicography 3:4.

STEIN, JESS, ed. (1983). The Random House Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Random House.

Honorable mention:

Terry Copeck.

Aaron J. Dinkin (who did learn many of these in High School).

Disclaimer: The author of this list shall not be held responsible for any injury (physical, emotional or financial) that may result from attempting to use these devices.

aphaeresis
apocope
aposiopesis
diaeresis
dystmesis
elision
ellipsis
eponymy
hendiadys
holonym
hypernym
hypocorisma
hyponym
kenning
litotes
meiosis
meronym
metonymy
paronomasia
periphrasis
pleonasm
procatalepsis
syllepsis
syncope
synecdoche
tmesis
zeugma

aphaeresis: The loss of an initial segment of a word.; special from especial; cute from acute
apocope: The loss of a final segment of a word.; curio from curiosity; cinema from cinematograph
aposiopesis: Significant breaking off so that the hearer must supply the unsaid words.; "If your father finds out..."
diaeresis: The pronouncing of two successive vowels as separate sounds.; naive
dystmesis: A form of tmesis in which the compound is separated at an inappropriate or unlikely position.; a whole nother story; unbe-freakin-lievable
elision: The suppression of a letter or syllable.; there's from there is
ellipsis: The omission from a sentence of words needed to complete the construction or sense.; "I gave John a book and Mary a ring." from; "I gave John a book and [I gave] Mary a ring."
eponymy: The introduction of a new word into the language from the names of people with whom the things or practices they stand for were associated.; boycott from Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott;; mesmerize from F. A. Mesmer
hendiadys: The substitution of conjunction for subordination in expressing a compound notion.; try and do better instead of try to do better
holonym: A concept that has another concept as a part (see also meronym).; door is a holonym of knob
hypernym: A word whose meaning denotes a superordinate (see also hyponym).; animal is a hypernym of dog
hypocorisma: Use of pet names, nursery words, diminutives, etc.; comfy for comfortable; undies for underwear
hyponym: A word whose meaning denotes a subordinate (see also hypernym).; dog is a hyponym of animal
kenning: A usually poetic device in which a common noun is replaced by a more colourful compound.; swan-road for ocean; cow house for barn
litotes: A kind of meiosis where the understatement is achieved by substituting an opposite and negating it.; "She was not disappointed by the news" instead of; "She was thrilled by the news."
meiosis: The use of understatement to enhance the impression on the hearer.; "The lottery winner was just a little excited."
meronym: A concept that is a part of another concept (see also holonym).; knob is a meronym of door
metonymy: Referring to a concept by an attribute of it (see also synecdoche).; the crown referring to a monarch.
paronomasia: Puns, plays on words, etc. based on similarity between different words or different senses of the same word.; "The cellist exhibited bass emotions."; "The critics fawned over Disney's Bambi."
periphrasis: Roundabout wording.; the person to whom I am engaged instead of my fiancée
pleonasm: The use of more words than necessary to give the sense intended.; "It was unanimously agreed upon by everyone."
procatalepsis: A figure by which an opponent's objections are anticipated and answered in advance.
syllepsis: A figure in which a single word appears to be in the same relationship to two others, but must be understood in a different sense with each of its pair (see also zeugma).; "I'm leaving for greener pastures and ten days."
syncope: The shortening of a word by omitting a middle segment.; symbology instead of symbolology
synecdoche: Referring to a concept by a part of it (see also metonymy).; "All of the big names in the field were there."
tmesis: Separation of the parts of a compound word by insertion of another word between them.; un-freakin-believable; hoo-bloody-ray
zeugma: A syllepsis in which the single word fails to give meaning to one of its pair.; "She greeted him with arms and expectations wide."

(last update April 14, 1996)
Send any additions or suggestions to:

kbarker@site.uottawa.ca