46. Stylistic Devices Based on the Relations of Identity: Synonymic Pairs, Synonymic Variation, Euphemism, Periphrasis.

Synonyms are 2 or more words of the same language & the same part of speech, which possess one or more identical or nearly identical denominational meanings, interchangeable at least in some contexts. S-s always have different components in connotation & denotation. Thus, synonymic variation allows to characterize & describe the object more thoroughly. Thanks to the usage of s-s the difference in their meanings is revealed. Contextual s-s are similar in meaning only under some specific distributional conditions. It may happen that the difference between the meanings of 2 words are contextually neutralized. ( Gas. I’ve swallowed too much of the beastly stuff. I can’t stand it any longer. =can’t bear).

Synonymic pairs are used both in everyday speech & in literature. They show all the typical features of idiomatic phrases that ensure their memorableness – rhyme, alliteration, rhythm & the use of archaic words (hale& hearty, with might & main, stress & strain, act & deed). Some of them don’t possess neither rhyme nor alliteration & are equally modern. They are pleonastic – emphasize the idea by stating it twice & possess a certain rhythmical quality which enhances their meaning & makes them easily remembered (by leaps & bounds, stuff & nonsense, proud & haughty).

In euphemism more or less pleasant & inoffensive connotation becomes synonymous to one that is harsh & indelicate. Euph. is a word or phrase used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by conventionally more acceptable one. It must always call up a definite s-m. The aim of political euph. is to mislead the reader. There are dictionary & stylistic euph., the latter are always new, genuine nomination of an object. Styl euph coins new name by disclosing some quality of an object.

Periphrasis is a very peculiar stylistic device which basically consists of using a roundabout form of expression instead of a simpler one, i.e. of using a more or less complicated syntactical structure instead of a word. Depending on the mechanism of this substitution, p-s are classified into figurative (metonymic and metaphoric), and logical. The first group is made, in fact, of phrase-metonymies and phrase-metaphors: "The hospital was crowded with the surgically interesting products of the fighting in Africa" (I.Sh.) where the extended metonymy stands for "the wounded". Logical periphrases are phrases synonymic with the words which were substituted by periphrases: "Mr. Du Pont was dressed in the conventional disguise with which Brooks Brothers cover the shame of American millionaires." (M.St.) "The conventional disguise" stands here for "the suit" and "the shame of American millionaires" — for "the paunch (the belly)". Because the direct nomination of the not too elegant feature of appearance was substituted by a roundabout description this periphrasis may be also considered euphemistic, as it offers a more polite qualification instead of a coarser one.

The main function is to convey a purely individual perception of the described object. To achieve it the generally accepted nomination of the object is replaced by the description of one of its features or qualities, which seems to the author most important for the characteristic of the object, and which thus becomes foregrounded. The often repeated periphrases become trite and serve as universally accepted periphrastic synonyms: "the gentle / soft / weak sex" (women); "my better half (my spouse); "minions of Law" (police).