The nature, types and functions of lexical stylistic devices: hyperbole, antonomasia, zeugma and pun. Problems for discussion

THE NATURE, TYPES AND FUNCTIONS OF LEXICAL STYLISTIC DEVICES: HYPERBOLE, ANTONOMASIA, ZEUGMA and PUN.


Problems for discussion:
1. Definition, structure, semantics and functions of Hyperbole.
2. Definition, semantics and functions of Antonomasia.
3. Definition, semantics and functions of Zeugma.
4. Definition, semantics and functions of Pun.
HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole is stylistic device which is also based on the interaction of logical and emotive meaning. It gives a deliberate exaggeration: million –coloured rainbow (Shelley)
There are actually seven colours in the spectrum. Shelley's hyperbole emphasizes the beauty of that rainbow .
“Look deep into your soul and puder on my words:
To you I am a puzzle, my person and verse .
My life has been a struggle, a thousand foes I braved
Don't judge me too severely –for you the way I paved.”
So hyperbole is a statement fancifully exaggerated through excitement or for effect. By such overstatement something is represented as much greater or less, better or worse:
When people say “I've told fifty times”,
They mean to scold and very often do.
Hyperbole can be trite and genuine:
I beg you a thousand pardons to be scared, t be tickled to death.
Hyperbole can be expressed by a word, combination of words, a sentence or several sentences.
“The earth was made for Dombey and Son to trade in and the sun and moon were made to give them light .Rivers and seas were formed to float their ships ,rainbows gave them promise of fair weather ,winds blew for or against their enterprises; stars and planets circled in their orbits to preserve a system of which they were the centre”. The notions expressed by hyperboles generally do not correspond to reality but both writer and the reader are fully aware of this fact. The notions expressed by hyperboles convey the idea of Mr Dombey's life.
The main stylistic function of hyperbole is to express emotions .In hyperbole the emotive meaning usually dominates over the logical one.
e.g. I would give worlds to see you
I would give the world to find you a pin.
Hyperbole is widely used in the oral type of speech .The speaker uses hyperbole to make his speech vivid and convincing:
e. g. I had to drag it out of him .
It seems ages since we had a real talk.