Reasons for using quotations

Quotations are used for a variety of reasons: to enrich, illuminate the meaning or support the arguments of the work in which it is being quoted, to pay homage to the original work or author, to make the user of the quotation seem well-read and even to ridicule the original author.

Common quotation sources

Chiefly for reference and accuracy, famous quotations are frequently collected in books that are sometimes called quotation dictionaries or treasuries. On the other hand, diaries and calendars often include quotations for entertainment or inspirational purposes, and small, dedicated sections in newspapers and weekly magazines — with recent quotations by leading personalities on current topics — have also become commonplace. Finally, chiefly through the World Wide Web, the Internet has become the world's main quotation repository.

5) Allusion is a stylistic device in which one refers covertly or indirectly to an object or circumstance that has occurred or existed in an external context. It is left to the reader or hearer to make the connection (Fowler). In the most traditional sense, allusion is a literary term, though the word also has come to encompass indirect references to any source, including film, art, or real events.

Allusion is an economical device, a figure of speech that draws upon the ready stock of ideas or emotion already associated with a topic in a relatively short space. Thus, an allusion is understandable only to those with prior knowledge of the reference in question.

It stimulates ideas, associations, and extra information in the reader’s mind with only a word or two. It means “reference”. It relies on the reader being able to understand the allusion and being familiar with all of the meaning hidden behind the words.

The poetry of T.S. Eliot is often described as "allusive", because of his habit of referring to names, places or images that may only make sense in the light of prior knowledge. This technique can add to the experience, but for the uninitiated can make Eliot's work seem dense and hard to decipher.

Allusions in English are commonly made to the Bible, nursery rhymes, myths, famous fictional or historical characters or events, and Shakespeare. They can be used in prose and poetry.

E.g. Christy didn’t spend money. She as no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.

The name Scrooge should bring to mind an image of someone who “pinches pennies” and hoards money with a passion. But the allusion only works if the reader is familiar with Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Charol”.

6. Re-evaluation of Idioms.

Re-evaluation of idioms is a very frequent phenomenon. The process can touch upon changes within the structure of the idiom (Decomposition of idioms) and semantic widening (additions to idioms).

a) Decomposition of idioms is a SD which consists in reviving the independent meanings which make up the component parts of the idiom. It makes each word of the combination acquire its literal meaning.

The fixed form of an idiom is sometimes broken by replacing one word for another, by altering the whole structure or by some other changes, e.g. “Don’t cry, the milk is spilt.” (there’s no need to cry over the spilt milk).

The semantic unity is violated by restoring primary meanings of the words in the phraseological unit, e.g. “You’re pulling my leg”- I’m not pulling your leg. Nothing would make me pull or even touch your beastly leg(to pull smb’s leg).

b) Additions to idioms are also very often introduced into a sentence with it. She was born with a silver spoon in the mouth, but judging by the size of her mouth it must have been a ladle.

Eg. It was raining cats and dogs, and two kittens and a puppy landed on a window-sill (Chesterton) the idiom to rain cats and dogs is freshened by the introduction of kittens and a puppy, which changes the unmotivated combination into a sustained metaphor.