Last week we discussed about Periphrasis, Euphemism, Hyperbole, Understatement.
Periphrasis is a stylistic device that consists in the renaming of an object by a phrase that brings out some particular feature of it. Rendering a purely individual perception of the object the device can be decipherable only in context. If a periphrastic locution is understandable outside the context, it is not a stylistic device but merely a synonymous expression.
Divisions of Stylistic Periphrasis:
Logical - based on one inherent properties or perhaps a passing feature of the object described.
Example: “the object of his admiration” (pertaining to “love”)
Figurative – based either on metaphor or metonymy, the keyword of the collocation being the word used figuratively.
Example: “the punctual servant of all work” (pertaining to “the sun”)
http://estylistics.blogspot.com/2012/05/periphrasis.html
Euphemism masks a rude or impolite expression but conveys the concept clearly and politely.
Here are some particularly amusing examples, except where downright offensive:
· If you are offered a career change or an early retirement opportunity, a career or employee transition, or you are being involuntarily separated, or if personnel is being realigned or there is a surplus reduction in personnel, or the staff is being re-engineered or right sized, or if there is a workforce imbalance correction then: You’re fired!
· You aren’t poor, you are economically disadvantaged.
· You aren’t broke, you have temporary negative cash flow.
http://lynnschneiderbooks.com/2011/12/23/20-examples-of-great-euphemisms/
A hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point.
Common Examples of Hyperbole:
· My grandmother is as old as the hills.
· Your suitcase weighs a ton!
· She is as heavy as an elephant!
· I am dying of shame.
· I am trying to solve a million issues these days.
He's got tons of money.
I had a ton of homework.
http://literarydevices.net/hyperbole/
An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
Examples Of Understatement:
· "It's a bit yellow" - while describing a very yellow canary.
· "There is some music by Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony" - while describing Beethoven's famous work.
· "The desert is sometimes dry and sandy" - While describing the driest desert in the world.
· "It is just a little cool today" - when the temperature outside is 5° below zero.
· "The food was tolerable" - on the food that was prepared by the best chef in the world.
· "The cars drove at a fair clip" - while watching a car race.