Lexical Expressive Means and Stylistic Devices

Classification of Lexical Stylistic Devices (SD) 
SD are usually classified into: 
1. SD based on the interaction of different types of lexical meaning. 
a) dictionary and contextual (metaphor, metonymy, irony); 
b) primary and derivative (zeugma and pun); 
c) logical and emotive (epithet, oxymoron); 
d) logical and nominative (autonomasia); 
2. SD based on the intensification of a feature (simile, hyperbole, periphrasis). 
3. 
SD based on the peculiar use of set expressions (cliches, proverbs, 
epigram, quotations). 
I. The Interaction of Different Types of Lexical Meaning 
1. Interaction of Dictionary And Contextual Logical Meaning 
The relation between dictionary and contextual meanings may be maintained 
along different lines: on the principle of affinity, on that of proximity, or symbol - 
referent relations, or on opposition.
15
Thus the stylistic device based on the first 
principle is metaphor, on the second, metonymy and on the third, irony 
A metaphor is a relation between the dictionary and contextual logical 
meanings based on the affinity or similarity of certain properties or features of the 
two corresponding concepts. Metaphor can be embodied in all the meaningful parts 
of speech, in nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs and sometimes even in the auxiliary 
parts of speech , as in prepositions. Metaphor as any stylistic devices can be 
classified according to their degree of unexpectedness. Thus metaphors which are 
absolutely unexpected, are quite unpredictable, are called genuine metaphors. 
15
Cowie R, Cornelius RR (2003) Describing the emotional states that are expressed in speech. Speech Commun 
40(1–2):5–32. 

---

33 
e. g. Through the open window the dust danced and was golden. 
Those which are commonly used in speech and are sometimes fixed in the 
dictionaries as expressive means of language are trite metaphors or dead 
metaphors e. g. a flight of fancy, floods of tears. 
Trite metaphors are sometimes injected with new vigour, their primary 
meaning is re-established alongside the new derivative meaning. This is done by 
supplying the central image created by the metaphor with additional words bearing 
some reference to the main word. 
e. g. Mr. Pickwick bottled up his vengeance and corked it down. 
The verb " to bottle up " is explained as " to keep in check", to conceal, to 
restrain, repress. So the metaphor can be hardly felt. But it is revived by the direct 
meaning of the verb "to cork down". Such metaphors are called sustained or 
prolonged. Stylistic function of a metaphor is to make the description concrete, to 
express the individual attitude.