Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary

Antonomasia

Antonomasia is a stylistic device based on the in­teraction of the logical and nominal meanings of the same word. As in other stylistic devices based on the interaction of lexical meanings, the two kinds of meanings must be realized in the word simultaneously. The realization of on­ly one meaning does not give a stylistic device.

Antonomasia is mostly used in the belles-lettres sty­le. Here are some illustrations widely used in emotive pro­se and drama.

Mr. Sparkish, a dandy, a man who pays too much care to his clothes and personal appearance (compare with the adjective ' sparkle"); Sir. Fid­get, a person who moves about restlessly, shows signs of impatience.

Sometimes capital letters are the only marks of the use of antonomasia. E.g.: Lord Nobody, Dr. Goodfeel. In such names the leading characteristic feature of a person or some event is marked or mentioned.

Antonomasia stands close to epithets. The author stresses the prominent features of a person and sticks the­se features to his name: Mr. Sharp, Mr. Backbite, Mr. Ze­ro. Such names are called token or tell-tale names. They give information to the reader about the bearer of the name. Antonomasia points out the leading, most characte­ristic feature of a person or an event.

Associated with epithets it denotes certain qualities of a person. Many nicknames of historical or public cha­racters are based on the use of such characterization. E.g.: The Iron Duke (the first Duke of Wellington); The Iron Lady (Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain).

In Russian and Uzbek literatures this device was em­ployed by many classic writers. It will suffice to mention such names as Korobochka, Sobakevich (in Russian) and Tantiboyvachcha, Zargarov (in Uzbek) to illustrate this efficient device for characterizing literary heroes. This de­vice is now falling out of use.

An interesting literary device to emphasize tell-tale names is employed by Byron in his "Don Juan" where the name is followed or preceded by an explanatory remark as in the following:

"Sir John Pottledeep, the mighty drinker".

"There was the sage Miss Reading".

"Sir Henry Silvercup, the great race-winner"

The explanatory words revive the logical meaning of the proper names thus making more apparent the interplay of logical and nominal meanings.

Another type of antonomasia is metonymic anto- nomasia which is based on the relation of contiguity. A product can be named after the inventor, manufacturer or after the place where it is produced: Bordeaux (white or red wine from the Bordeaux region of France). The name of a painter, writer, sculptor can be used to denote his work: "A Titian-haired girl", the reference is made to the paintings of the world's greatest Italian painter Titian, wo­men in his pictures are generally red-haired. "Wall street", the chief financial center of the USA; "the White House", the US President's residence and office; "the Pentagon", the building where US Army headquarters are placed; "Downing Street", street in London with official residences of the Prime Minister, the Government.

We distinguish metaphoric antonomasia which is usually considered to be a cliche. E.g.: He is a regular Sherlock Holms - may be said about an observant person; Romeo and Juliet, young people who love each other.

The significance or antonomasia in belles-lettres style should not be neglected because it helps to reveal the hid­den meaning of the story of narration. E.g.: in Shakes­peare's "Hamlet" at the end of the play the Prince of Nor­way, Fortinbrass appears on the stage. The meaning of his name is significant in interpreting Shakespeare's concep­tion. It consists of two words: "fort" and "brass". The first word means "a building specially strengthened for mili­tary defence", the second word "brass" is a French word and denotes a "hand". The implication is that people need a strong and brave ruler (King) in this country.

Depending on the character of the contextual meaning there are two types of antonomasia:

1. 
   that based on the interaction between the nominal and contextual logical meanings;
   
2. 
   that based on the interaction between the logical
   

and contextual nominal meanings.

To the first group we shall refer those cases in which a proper noun is used for a common noun. Proper name in this type of an antonomasia expresses some quality connected with the character of a person whose name is used: so "Othello" stands for "a jealous person". "Don Ju­an" for "amorous".

When O'Henry says: "Every Caesar has his Brutus", using the names of these two well-known Roman states­men, he characterizes the relations between his heroes".

This type of antonomasia is usually trite, for the wri­ter repeats the well-known, often-mentioned facts. Thro­ugh long and consistent usage of a proper noun for a com­mon noun the former may lose its nominal meaning.

In the second type of antonomasia we observe the in­teraction between the logical and the contextual nominal meanings, i.e. practically any common noun can be used as a common name. It is always original. In such cases the person's name serves his first characteristics. E.g.: Dic­kens names the talkative and boastful adventure from "The Pickwick Papers" Mr. Jingle, creating the association with the sound produced by a constantly shaking tongue of a bell. Most often these names-characteristics are used by humourists and satirists. Here are, for example, some She­ridan's personages: Mr. Backbite, Mr. Snake, Mr. Carefree, etc.

The use of antonomasia is now not confined to the belles-lettres style. It is often found in publicistic style, that is in magazine and newspaper articles, in essays and also in military language.
В. Intensification of a Certain Feature of a Thing or Phenomenon

Sometimes for a special reason one of the features of the thing is made the most essential, it is elevated to great­est importance. Such stylistic devices as simile, perip­hrasis, euphemism are included into this group.