Microsoft Word stilistika O'UM. doc

Gradation. Gradation is a syntactical stylistic device based on the arrangement 
of a number of statements or a group of words in an ascending order of importance to 
show growing emotional tension. Threaten him, imprison him, torture him, kill him, 
you will not induce him to betray his country. 
Gradation is based on a gradual increase in significance, each successive unit is
perceived as stronger than the preceding one. I don't attach any value to money 1 
don't care about it, I don't know about it. I don't want it, I don't keep it - it goes away 
from me directly. 
Gradation can be expressed by a simple sentence. It was a mistake, a blunder lunacy. 
In this case gradation is realized with the help of synonyms. More often 
gradation is expressed by compound sentences or longer syntactical units. Gradation 
of this type is always based on parallel construction which are frequently 
accompanied by lexical repetition. 
e.g. Say yes. If you don't, I'll break into tears. I'll sob, I'll moan, I'll growl. 
We must distinguish three ways of increasing the significance: logical, emotive 
and quantitative. 
Logical gradation is based on the use of a successive unit which is strong than 
the preceding one from the point of view of its meaning: “Threaten him, imprison 
him, torture him, kill him, you will not induce him to betray his country”. The word 
“kill” is the strongest in meaning among all these contextual synonyms.
Emotional gradation is based on the relative emotional tension produced by 
word of emotional meaning: “Your son is very ill – seriously ill - -desperately ill”. 
The emotional meaning is prevailing in the word “desperately”. Compare the 
dictionary meaning of these words. “Seriously” implies “possible danger” whereas 
“desperately” implies “extremely serious or dangerous consequence”. 
Quantitative gradation presupposes the use of hyperbole or numerals: Farmer’s 
wives who had strength, endurance and energy of locomotives and the appetites of 
dinosaurs… 
The main syntactical pattern of gradation consists of a clause or sentence based 
on lexical repetition. 
The stylistic function of this SD is to show the associate importance of things 
in the utterance, to show the significance of the thing described and to show the 
dynamic development of the same process.

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