Chapter 7 stylistic semasiology

As distinct from Stylistic Lexicology investigating the stylistic value of nomination and renaming, Stylistic Semasiology deals with stylistic functions of relationship of names in texts. It studies types of linear arrangement of meanings, singling out, classifying, and describing what is called here “figures of co-occurrence”, by which term combined, joint appearance of sense units is understood (compare with the term “figures of replacement” in Stylistic Lexicology).

The interrelation of semantic units is unique in any individual text. Yet stylistics, like any other branch of science, aims at generalizations. The most general types of semantic relationships can be reduced to three:

1. Identical meanings when linguistic units co-occurring in the text either have the same meanings, or are used as names of the same object (thing, phenomenon, process, property, etc.).

2. Different meanings when the correlative linguistic units in the text are perceived as denoting different objects (phenomena, processes, properties).

3. Opposite meanings when two correlative units are semantically polar – the meaning of one of them is incompatible with the meaning of the second (the one excludes the other).

!!!The first and the third types do not necessarily imply strictly logical, objective identity or contrast of co-occurring meanings, the things are considered to be identical or contrasting only relatively and much depends on our treatment of the matter (Ex. Child, kid, infant). As for the second item discussed (difference, inequality of co-occurring meanings), here we deal not with any kind of distinction or disparity, but only with cases when carriers of meanings are syntactically and (or) semantically correlative (Ex. I ask you, I beg you, I beseech you).

Summing up, sometimes two or more units are viewed by both the speaker and the hearer – according to varying aims of communication – as identical, different, or even opposite. The three types of semantic interrelations are matched by three groups of figures, which are the subject-matter of Stylistic Semasiology and they are: figures of identity, figures of inequality, and figures of contrast.

F igures Of Combination simile

This figure of identity consists in expressive comparison of two objects which have something in common.

Assigned features. Simile should not be confused with logical comparison which is devoid of any stylistic meaning. The sentence "John can run as fast as Jack" contains purely logical confrontation of two objects. Here are some more examples of logical comparison:

John is older than Sam.

John behaves like his father.

John is not so heavy as Sam.

Словом, Яринка стала панночкою, як і її приятельки . сусідки з інших сіл.

Іван Захарович знає це краще, ніж будь-хто.

Classification. Simile may be expressed by means of the following structural variants:

1. Conjunctions as or like:

Rosa is as beautifid as a flower. Paula is like a fairy.

2. Adverbial clauses of comparison (conjunctions as, as if, as though): Robin looked at Sibil as a mouse might look at a cat.

Viola behaves as if she were a child.

3. Adjectives in the comparative degree: Roy behaved worse than a cutthroat.

4. Adverbial word-combinations containing prepositional attributes: With the quickness of a cat. Samuel climbed up the tree.

5. Simile may be implied, having no formal indications of comparison: Odette had a strange resemblance to a captive bird.

Conjunctions of comparison in the Ukrainian language are the following: як, мов, мовби, немов, немовби, наче, начебто, неначе, ніби, нібито, ніж, аніж, etc.:

Зворушливо-ніжне видиво з чарівливо легкою, як шовк, постаттю, з ласкавою усмішкою, що пливла в просторі, тонка й прозора, мов ранковий туман під сонцем, виникало завжди несподівано й неждано. Гули хрущі та літали, як кулі.

Обмок - як вовк, обкис - як біс, голодний - як собака. Гаснуть вогні у листі, Ніби в безодню моря Падають зорі янтарні.

Communicative function. Simile is one of the most frequent and effective means of making speech expressive. The more unexpected the confrontation of two objects is, the more expressive sounds simile.

• similes

• A simile requires less of an imaginative leap than does a metaphor. A simile states that A is like B, whereas a metaphor suggests that A actually is B.

• The simile is one component of imagery. This is the process of evoking ideas, people, places, feelings and various other connections in a vivid and effective way.

• Imagery is used in both written and spoken communication in many varieties of form, from advertising to poetry and from chatting to speech-making.

• Simile, metaphor and symbol are the main types of imagery, and the result is that communication acquires a creative and vital quality which somehow springs from the essential act of comparison.

• So, a raindrop can become a crystal, fear can become an abyss, and jealousy a monster.

• By employing imagery, we interpret the material world and use language to transmit our vision.