Stylistic devices based on the interaction between primary and derivative logical meaning of a word (or between the meanings of two homonyms)

The main stylistic function of these SD is to create humorous effect. Here belong:

1) Zeugma - a special stylistic device which makes a word materialize two distinct dictionary meanings. Zeugma is the use of a word in the same grammatical but different semantic relations to two adjacent words in a context. The semantic relations are literal on the one hand and transferred on the other hand.

Ex. "Sally", said Mr. Bentley in a voice almost as low as his intentions, "let's go out to the kitchen "

Zeugma is particularly favored in English emotive prose and in poetry. Zeugma is a strong and effective device to maintain the purity of the primary of the primary meaning when the two meanings two clash. By making the two meanings obvious in this particular way, each of them stands out clearly.

2) Pun is another SD based on the interaction of two well-known meanings of a word or phrase. The role of the context is similar to that of zeugma, while the structure is changed, for the central word is repeated. It is difficult to draw a hard and fast distinction between zeugma and pun. The only reliable distinguishing feature is a structural one: zeugma is a realization of two meanings with the help of a verb which is made to refer to different subjects or objects. The pun is more independent. There might be no word in the sentence to which pun refers. This doesn't mean however that the pun is entirely free. Like any other stylistic device it must depend on a context. But the context may be of a more expanded character, sometimes even as large as a whole work of emotive prose.

3) Semantically false chain - extended context prepares the reader for the realization of a word in one contextual meaning when unexpectedly appears a semantically alien element forcing the second contextual meaning upon central word. Structurally it presents a chain of homogenious members, belonging to non relating semantic fields but linked to the same kernel (суть, значение), which due to them is realized in two of its meanings simultaneously.

4) Violation of phraseological units - occurs when the bound phraseological meanings of the components of the unit are disregarded and intentionally replaced by their original literal meanings.

PART VII

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