ASSIGNMENTS FOR SELF-CONTROL
Practical lesson V. Lexical Stylistic Devices.
ASSIGNMENTS FOR SELF-CONTROL
1. What lexical meanings of a word can you name? Which of them, in most cases, is the most important one?
2. What SDs are based on the use of the logical (denotational) meaning of a word?
3. What is a contextual meaning? How is it used in a SD?
5. What is a metaphor? What are its semantic, morphological, syntactical, structural, functional peculiarities?
6. What is a metonymy? Give a detailed description of the device.
7. What is included into the group of SDs known as "play on words"? Which ones of them are the most frequently used? What levels of language hierarchy are involved into their formation?
9. What meanings of a word participate in the violation of a phraseological unit?
10. What is the basic effect achieved by the play on words?
ASSIGNMENTS FOR SELF-CONTROL
1. What is irony, what lexical meaning is employed in its formation?
2. What types of irony do you know? What is the length of the context needed for the realization of each of them?
3. What are the most frequently observed mechanisms of irony formation? Can you explain the role of the repetition in creating irony?
4. Can you name English or American writers known for their ingenuity and versatility in the use of irony?
Exercise IV. In the following excerpts you will find mainly examples of verbal irony. Explain what conditions made the realization of the opposite evaluation possible. Pay attention to the part of speech which is used in irony, also its syntactical function:
1. "I had a plot, a scheme, a little quiet piece of enjoyment afoot, of which the very cream and essence was that this old man and grandchild should be as poor as frozen rats," and Mr. Brass revealed the whole story, making himself out to be rather a saint like holy character. (D.)
2. The lift held two people and rose slowly, groaning with diffidence. (I.M.)
3. England has been in a dreadful state for some weeks. Lord Coodle would go out. Sir Thomas Doodle wouldn't come in, and there being nobody in Great Britain (to speak of) except Coodle and Doodle, there has been no Government (D.)
4. From her earliest infancy Gertrude was brought up by her aunt. Her aunt had carefully instructed her to Christian principles. She had also taught her Mohammedanism, to make sure. (L.)
5. She's a charming middle-aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud and if she has washed her hair since Coolidge's second term, I'll eat my spare tire, rim and all. (R.Ch.)
6. With all the expressiveness of a stone Welsh stared at him another twenty seconds apparently hoping to see him gag. (R.Ch.)
7. "Well. It's shaping up into a lovely evening, isn't it?" "Great," he said.
"And if I may say so, you're doing everything to make it harder, you little sweet." (D. P.)
8. Mr. Vholes is a very respectable man. He has not a large business, but he is a very respectable man. He is allowed, by the greater attorneys to be a most respectable man. He never misses a chance in his practice which is a mark of respectability, he never takes any pleasure, which is another mark of respectability, he is reserved and serious which is another mark of respectability. His digestion is impaired which is highly respectable. (D.)
9. Several months ago a magazine named Playboy which concentrates editorially on girls, books, girls, art, girls, music, fashion, girls and girls, published an article about old-time science-fiction. (M.St.)
12. A local busybody, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, asked an expectant mother point-blank whether she was going to have a baby. "Oh, goodness, no,"the young woman said pleasantly. "I'm just carrying this for a friend." (P.G.W.)
13. Sonny Grosso was a worrier who looked for and frequently managed to find, the dark side of most situations. (P. M.)
14. Bookcases covering one wall boasted a half-shelf of literature. (T.C.)
15. I had been admitted as a partner in the firm of Andrews and Bishop, and throughout 1927 and 19281 enriched myself and the firm at the rate of perhaps forty dollars a month. (Jn.B.)