修辞学复习

修辞学复习

（一）D efinition

1. Choice of words

(1). Denotation and connotation

Denotation is the specific, direct, and literal meaning of a word.

Connotation is the associative or suggestive meaning of a word.

(2). General words and specific words

appeal to the imagination, a vivid image, more informative and persuasive

(3). Abstract words and concrete words

(4). Long words and short words

2. Choice of sentences

(1) Simple sentences

(2) Compound sentences

(3) Complex sentences

(4) Compound-complex sentences

(5) Loose sentences

(6) Periodic sentences

(7) Long and short sentences

3. Figures of speech

(1) Phonetic figures of speech (choice of sounds)

a.Alliteration

It is the repetition of initial consonant in a sequence of (一系列的) words.

It is good for sound rhyme, musical effect and significant emphasis. It’s a great help to memory. By highlighting the sounds of words, alliteration catches the attention of the audience and makes the idea impressed deeply on the audience and thus easier for them to remember.

b. Assonance ['æs(ə)nəns] 半韵，谐音

It is the repetition or resemblance of vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of a sequence of words, preceded and followed by different consonants as in “late and make”. Assonance also refers to the likeness of sound in a series of words, as in “fair and square”. It’s a partial- or half-rhyme.

It is often used in poetic language to create a musical rhythm for a particular effect of euphony.['juːf(ə)nɪ] 悦耳之音

c. Consonance

It refers to the repetition of the final and identical consonants whose preceding vowels are different, words like sing—rang, dash—fish.

Consonance, like alliteration and assonance, is often employed in poetry.

d. Onomatopoeia[,ɒnə(ʊ)mætə'piːə] 拟声

It is a term used to describe the phenomenon of language sounding like the thing if refers to.

Onomatopoeia helps make description lifelike, add vividness or vitality to the description and give auditory description to break up a little the visual description that is often felt strenuous to understand. It helps make the implied exquisiteness of the diction more directly to the readers in an auditory way.

(2) Semantic figures of speech 语义修辞格（what is semantic figure of speech?）

a. Simile ['sɪmɪlɪ] 明喻

Two concepts or two similar things are imaginatively and descriptively compared because they have at least one quality or characteristic in common or in resemblance. The commonest connectives are “like” and “as”.

It’s to draw sharp pictures in the mind through comparisons, to give deeper insight into things, persons and ideas through suggestive association, or to explain abstract, complicated ideas in simple, concrete imagery.

Four basic demands:

⏹It has simile indicator such as “like”, “as”or “as if ”etc.

⏹Two things involved in comparison: tenor and vehicle.

⏹The two things mush be substantially different

⏹The two things should be similar in at least one quality.

Classification of Simile:

⏹Descriptive Simile

⏹Illuminative Simile

⏹Illustrative Simile

⏹Closed Simile

⏹Open Simile

b. Metaphor

Metaphor uses words to indicate something different from their literal meaning--one thing is described in terms of another so as to suggest a likeness or analogy ([ə'nælədʒɪ] 类比，类似) between them.

Classification

Three requirements for metaphor

Common types of Metaphor

c.Metonymy

Metonymy involves the substitution of the name of one thing for that of another.

For example, the name of a referent (指示物，指示对象) is substituted by the name of an attribute or entity related in some semantic way or by spatial proximity or by other reasons.

Sources of Metonymy:

⏹Body part