10 Figures of Speech

Rhetoric is the art of influencing others through written, spoken, or visual communication. This concept has its origins in classical times. One of the most significant works on the subject from that era is Quintilian's *The Orator's Education* (if you feel particularly generous, feel free to check out my Amazon wishlist – it’s listed on page 1 and spans 5 volumes). Many of history’s most famous speeches were delivered by those who mastered rhetoric, such as John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill. Common rhetorical devices you may recognize include irony, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and assonance. Think of grammar as the science of writing well, while rhetoric is its art. By the way, that was an example of zeugma (item 6). Here’s a list of ten rhetorical tropes to kickstart your journey into the art of persuasion.

10. Polysyndeton

The technique of using multiple conjunctions between clauses, often to slow down the rhythm or pace of speech.

The opposite of polysyndeton – a rhetorical device where conjunctions are omitted between clauses – found in a famous quote:

Brachylogia operates similarly, though it eliminates conjunctions between individual words, creating a sense of urgency: 'John! Rise, eat, leave!'

I particularly enjoy this one because it allows for creative fun. It involves reversing the order of words based on time sequence. This is something we often encounter – a prime example being: 'Put on your shoes and socks' – naturally, socks must be put on first. This is a form of hyperbaton, where the word order is simply inverted, unrelated to time, as shown in Shakespeare’s 'Why should their liberty than ours be more?'

The similarity of endings between adjacent or parallel words.

A broad term that refers to when one part of speech (typically the main verb, but sometimes a noun) governs two or more other elements in a sentence, often in a series.

Referring to something or someone by naming one of its attributes. For example, 'He bought a great set of wheels' – where 'wheels' is an attribute of the actual object, the car. Another example: 'We await word from the crown.' The 'crown' is an attribute of the King, symbolizing the King himself, not just the crown he wears.

A conscious understatement, particularly when expressing a thought by negating its opposite. This form of modesty is often employed to win the favor of one's audience:

The repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. I’m sure you’ve encountered the most famous modern example of this:

Sir Winston was renowned for his powerful speeches, yet few are aware that he would labor over them, skillfully applying rhetoric, before committing them to memory. He delivered his speeches with the appearance of speaking spontaneously. His reputation as one of the greatest statesmen is largely due to his mastery of rhetoric.

A technique the press should use more sparingly! It refers to the vivid peristasis (a description of circumstances) designed to stir emotions.

This is a brilliant rhetorical device – it involves drawing attention to something by pretending to overlook it. It's a form of irony.

I now challenge you to incorporate at least one of these rhetorical devices in the comments below (using your own words, not quoting from famous speeches).

Referenced from: Silva Rhetoricae

Technorati Tags: rhetoric