Functional styles. Types of functional styles in English and their style-forming linguistic features

Types and functions of Lexico-Syntactical Stylistic Devices: Similes, Litotes.

What is a Simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as.” Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

Common Examples of Simile

• John is as slow as a snail.
• Our soldiers are as brave as lions.
• Her cheeks are red like a rose.
• He is as funny as a monkey.

Modern Examples of Similes

An example of this includes a line from Rihanna’s song, “Diamonds:”

“You and I, you and I,

We’re like diamonds in the sky”

Here is an example of a simile being used in a popular American newspaper.

Happy as a Clam

This is a popular simile used in writing, and it describes someone who is extremely happy.

The Function of Similes

• making writing more interesting
• making writing more concise
• expression of comparison
• giving greater significance to the text
• Similes add layered meaning and interest to writing

Two things are compared directly by using 'like' (A is like B.).

Two things are compared directly by using 'like' (A is like B.).

Other possibilities are for example:

• A is (not) like B
• A is more/less than B
• A is as … as B
• A is similar to B
• A is …, so is B
• A does …, so does B

Fit these adjectives into the sentences below

• 1. Without his glasses, he's as ____________ as a bat.
• 2.That's a pretty dress! It's as ___________ as a rainbow.
• 3. Be quiet. You are as ______________ as a herd of elephants.
• 4. Are you feeling sick? You are as __________ as a ghost.
• 5. Her hands are dirty. They are as __________ as night.
• 6. She's quick. She's as _______________ as lightning.

Fast flat slippery pale sharp wise black blind thin colourful light noisy

Fast flat slippery pale sharp wise black blind thin colourful light noisy

7. After he squashed it, it was as ____________ as a pancake.

8. I can't grab it. It's as ____________ as an eel.

9. She is so skinny. She's as ____________ as a toothpick.

10. Don't touch that broken glass. It's as _______ as a razor.

11. It doesn't weigh much. It’s as _________ as

a feather.

12. He's really smart. He's as___________ as an owl.

1. Without his glasses, he's as blind as a bat.

• 1. Without his glasses, he's as blind as a bat.
• 2.That's a pretty dress! It's as colourful as a rainbow.
• 3. Be quiet. You are as noisy as a herd of elephants.
• 4. Are you feeling sick? You are as pale as a ghost.
• 5. Her hands are dirty. They are as dark as night.
• 6. She's quick. She's as fast as lightning.

7. After he squashed it, it was as flat as a pancake.

8. I can't grab it. It's as slippery as an eel.

9. She is so skinny. She's as thin as a toothpick.

10. Don't touch that broken glass. It's as sharp as a razor.

11. It doesn't weigh much. It’s as light as a feather.

12. He's really smart. He's as wise as an owl.

Definition of Litotes

Litotes is a literary term for a figure of speech that uses negative terms to express a positive statement.

Litotes vs. Understatement and Double Negative

Understatement is a figure of speech that makes something seem less significant or less severe than it actually is.

Examples of Understatement:

• It’s chilly out here. (When It is actually freezing)
• I’m a little tired. (I’m exhausted.)

A double negative is an expression that uses two negative terms to express a positive.

Examples of Double Negatives:

• I don’t have no time for that.
• Intended meaning: I don’t have any time for that.
• That won’t do you no good.
• Intended meaning: That won’t do you any good.

Common Litotes Examples

• They do not seem the happiest couple around.
• The ice cream was not too bad.
• New York is not an ordinary city.
• Your comments on politics are not useless.
• You are not as young as you used to be.
• I cannot disagree with your point of view.
• William Shakespeare was not a bad playwright at all.
• He is not the cleverest person I have ever met.
• She is not unlike her mother.
• Ken Adams is not an ordinary man
• A million dollars is no small amount.
• You are not doing badly at all.
• Your apartment is not unclean.

Function of Litotes

• Litotes uses ironic understatement in order to emphasize an idea or situation.

J.R. Bergmann, in his book Talk at Work: Interaction in Institutional Settings, talks about litotes in the following words:

“I want to claim that the rhetorical figure litotes is one of those methods which are used to talk about an object in a discreet way. It clearly locates an object for the recipient, but it avoids naming it directly.”

The Purpose of Litotes

• Litotes is often used in rhetoric.
• Litotes are a way to actually emphasize the positive by using a double negative. Litotes causes the listener to think and consider the statement.
• Litotes are also a way to skirt an issue or to try to save face.

Thank you for your attention!