Items for discussion:
1. Compositional patterns of syntactical arrangement
2. Particular ways of combining parts of the utterance
3. Particular use of colloquial constructions
4. Stylistic use of structural meaning.
Syntax is the branch of language science studying the relations between words, word-combinations and larger kinds of utterances.
1.Compositional patterns of syntacital arrangement (Stylistic inversion, detached construction, parallel constructions, Chiasmus, repetition, enumeration, suspense, climax, antithesis)
2. Particular ways of combining parts of the utterance (asyndeton and polysyndeton)
3. Particular use of colloquial constructions (ellipsis, beak-in-the-narrative)
4. Stylistic use of structural meaning (rhetorical question, litotes)
Inversion – is every noticeable change in word-order
Stylistic inversion aims at attaching logical stress or additional emotional color to the utterance. A specific intonation is inevitable. It’s not a violation of the norm, it’s a practical realization of what is potential in the language.
Stylistic inversion and grammatical inversion are not the same
Enumeration is a stylistic device by which separate things, objects, phenomena, actions or properties are named one by one so that they produce a chain. (The principal production of these towns… appear to be soldiers, sailors, Jews, chalk, shrimps, officers and dock-yard men)
Climax (gradation) is the arrangement of sentences which secures a gradual increase in significance, importance or emotional tension in the utterance (I am sorry, I am so very sorry, I am so extremely sorry).
The gradual increase insignificance may be maintained in three ways:
1. logical (objective) gradation – based on the relative importance of the components looked at from the point of view of the concepts embodied in them.
2. emotional – based on the relative emotional tension produced by words with emotive meanings
3. quantitative – an evident increase in the volume (численность) of the concepts
Antithesis – is the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses. (We must learn to live together as brother or perish together as fools)
In order to characterize a theme or phenomenon from a specific point of view it may be necessary to find some features in contrast.
Suspense – in consists in arranging the matter of communication in such way that the less important parts are placed at the beginning and the main idea is at the end of the sentence. So that suggests an idea of anticipation. So the reader’s attention is held and he is in the state of uncertainty and expectation. It is mainly framed within one sentence as separate sentences violate the principle of constant emotional tension characteristic of this device. This device is favoured by orators.
II. Particular ways of combining parts of the sentence.
Asyndeton is a deliberate omission of connectives between parts of sentences where they are generally expected to be according to the norms of the language (Soams turned away; he had an utter disinclination to talk).
Polysyndetion is the stylistic device of connection sentences or phrases or words by using connectives before each component. (The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only on respect).
The repetition of conjunctions or other connectives makes an utterance more rhythmical. Unlike enumeration which combines elements into one whole polysyndeton shows things isolated. Polysyndeton has an disintegrating function. It causes each member of a string (chain) of facts to stand out conspicuously (очевидно).
III. Particular use of colloquial constructions.
Ellipsis is an intentional omission of any part of a sentence (the subject, the predicate or any other principal parts). E.g., Were they interesting books? Don’t know. Haven’t read them. Looked pretty hopeless. In writing it’s indicated by dots or asterisk (*). Ellipsis always imitates the features of colloquial language. In colloquial speech ellipsis makes the speech more compact. In literary descriptions it may give the construction an additional eSxpressive or emotional colouring.
Break-in-the-Narrative (Aposiopesis) serves to convey to the reader a very strong upsurge of emotions. The speaker can’t proceed or can’t go on his feelings deprive him of the ability to express himself in the terms of language. E.g., You just come home or I’ll…
Sometimes aposiopesis in caused by euphemistic considerations. Unwillingness to name a thing on the ground of being offensive or even superstitious. The role of intonation is important here.
IV.
Rhetorical questions reshape the grammatical meaning of the interrogative sentence. So the question is no longer a question but a statement expressed as an interrogative sentence. The most common structural type is a negative-interrogative sentence. it is primarily used in publicist style (Have I not had to wrestle with my lot?)
Litotes – is a figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. (It is not bad. He is no coward). It’s a peculiar use of negative construction. The first component of a litotes is always negative particle ‘not’, the second always negative in meaning varies inform from a negatively affixed word to a negative phrase. Litotes is not a pure negation but a negation that includes affirmation. Such constructions have a stronger effect on a reader that affirmative.
