10. Epithet and Oxymoron

Question 1

What’s epithet? What’s its function?

Answer 1

A tag/nickname together with the real name. A fixed formula. It’s often metaphoric. Describes in a sharp, clear light.
Function: Decorative. F.e.: “cloud-gathering Zeus”.

Question 2

What’s epithet according to I.Galperin?

Answer 2

It’s the interaction between the logical dictionary meaning and emotive meaning.

Question 3

What’s the difference between epithet and logical attribute?

Answer 3

Epithet is subjective and evaluative.
Logical attribute is objective.

Question 4

Speak generally at first and mention only the semantic one in details.

What are the types of epithet?

Answer 4

It’s divided into semantic and structural.
Semantic is divided into associated and unassociated groups. Associated represents inherent features: dark forest, dreary midnight. Unassociated represents non-inherent features: heart-burning smile, bootless cries.

Question 5

What are the types of of epithets according to structure?

Answer 5

The structural is divided according to composition and distribution.
According to composition:
1. Simple (one word);
2. Compound;
3. Sentence/phrase (“do-it-yourself”);
4. Reversal. Composition of two nouns linked by a phrase: “a shadow of a smile”;
According to distribution:
1. String. Ex.: “enchanting, bewildering, fatal, great city.
2. Transferred. It’s about giving inanimate objects logical attributes of a human: “Merry hours”, “sleepless pillow”.

Question 6

What’s speech epithets?

Answer 6

Created by authors, unexpected and fresh.

Question 7

Describe epithet types according to Kucharenko.

Answer 7

1. Tautological: “green grass”;
2. Evaluative: “a pompously majestic female”;
3. Descriptive: “an unnatural mild day”;
4. Metaphorical: “the smiling sun”;
5. Metonymical: “the sleepless pillow”;

Question 8

What’s Oxymoron?

Answer 8

Short, contradictory phrase with no literal interpretation.

Question 9

Describe types of Oxymora according to Ledererthere.

Answer 9

1. Single-word Oxymora: “sophomore” (wise fool);
2. Natural. The ones we usually use: “inside out”;
3. Literary Oxymora. Created by well-known authors: “sweet sorrow” (Shakespeare);

Question 10

Describe types of Oxymora according to I. Galperin.

Answer 10

1. Fresh/Genuine: “peopled desert”, “populous silence”;
2. Dead/Trite: “awfully kind”, “terribly nice”;

Question 11

(1)___ may involve a high degree of emotions.

Answer 11

(1) Oxymoron

Question 12

What’s doublespeak? What can it be similar to?

Answer 12

Disguises, distorts or even reverses. May take the form of euphemisms: “servicing target” (bombing). Makes truth less unpleasant, without denying its nature.

Question 13

Is doublespeak the same as euphemism? Why? Prove your point with examples.

Answer 13

Doublespeak isn’t the same as euphemism. Doublespeak has the ability to use a lie and to try getting away with it by shaping facts selectively to fit one’s agenda/program. Examples: “force packages” - warplanes, “special operation” - war.

Question 14

Whom is doublespeak often used by?

Answer 14

Politicians.