On The System Of English Rhetorical Figures

The study of rhetorica1 figures occupies an important p1ace in thestudy of rhetoric, so it's significant to make a carefu1 study ofrhetorica1 figures. However, a scientific system of Eng1ish rhetorica1figures has not been estab1ished unti1 now. This not on1y is unfavorab1eto the further study of rhetorica1 figures, but a1so hinders thedeve1oPment of the study of rhetoric. In order to promote thedeve1opment of Eng1ish rhetoric, it's necessary to estab1ish ascientific system to unify a11 rhetorica1 figures organica1ly.Group P, a group of scholars of the Center for Poetic Studies ofthe University of Liege in Be1gium, have estab1ished a genera1 systemof -fundanenta1 rhetorica1 figures in their joint work in FrenchAnetOrtque ggndrs1e (1ater trans1ated into Eng1ish as A Genem1AnetOrtC, to be cited hereinafter as G4 which was Pub1ished in l970.And we be1ieve that the system by GrouD p cou1d be emp1oyed for referencein the estab1ishInent of the system of Eng1ish rhetorica1 figures.The present thesis is a preliminary probe into the c1assificationof Eng1ish rhetorica1 figUres, with the aim of improving and enrichingGroup P s system in combination with traditiona1 c1assifications.The thesis consists of four chapters.The first chapter gives a definition of rhetorica1 figures, anda presentation of the re1ationship between rhetorica1 figures andrhetorica1 devices.The concept of rhetorica1 figures is very vague. Sofne knowndefinitions of rhetorica1 figures can be interpreted in two theoriesrthe theory of substitution and the theory of deviation. We supposethat rhetorica1 figures are intentiona11y--adopted andre1ative1y--fixed specia1 expressions which deviate from degree zeroin order to improve the rhetorica1 effect. 0n the one hand, rhetoricalfigures are different from rhetorica1 devices. 0n the other hand,rhetorica1 figures have c1ose re1ationship with rhetorica1 devices,with the former inc1uded in the 1atter. We must be ab1e to differentiatebetween the two concepts of rhetorica1 figures and rhetorica1 devices,so that we can make the c1assification and the system of rhetorica1figures more scientific. However, Our differentiation of these twoconcepts is not to meke them opposite to each other, and there is noabsolute dividing 1ine between them, especia11y in modern rhetoric.In short, Chapter 0ne may contribute to c1assifying some obscureor unc1ear concepts and understandings in the fie1d of rhetoric throughthe study of the definitions of rhetorica1 figuI'es and of there1ationship between rhetorica1 figures and rhetorica1 devicesChapter TWo points out the necessity, comp1exity and feasibi1ityof the c1assification of rhetorica1 figures, and Inakes an investigationof some known c1assifications of Eng1ish rhetorica1 figures.In order to make a systematic and scientific study of rhetorica1figures, we need to classify them. MOreover, c1assification ofrhetorica1 figures is a requirement for the understanding and practica1using of rhetorica1 figures. But at present, the known c1assificationsof rhetorica1 figures are in confusion. Therefore a new c1assificationof rhetorica1 figures is necessary. A1though the c1assification ofrhetorica1 figures is comP1icated, it sti11 has feasibi1ity. We shou1dmake it c1ear that our c1assification is scientific and high1ytheoret ica1.An investigation of different known c1assifications shows thatthey can be sererized into six types. The first type is dividingfigures into two or thI.ee c1asses on the basis of structura1 1inguistics.The second type is dividing figures into five c1asses. The third typeis that of practica1 or intuitiona1 c1assifications. The fourth typeinc1udes 1oose groupings. The fifth type refers to c1assificationsbased on certain 1inguistic theories. The 1ast type is dividing figuresinto four or six c1asses. These types of c1assifications do have theirrespective advantages, which the improved system of Eng1ish...