Figures of Speech

Tropes: not to be taken literally

Name	Explanation	Example
metaphor
metonymy
synekdoche
metalepsis
irony
paradox
oxymoron
litotes
hyperbole

Metaplastic figures: playing with spelling and sound

The addition of letters and sounds

Name	Explanation	Example
prosthesis	addition of letters to the beginning of a word
epenthesis	addition of letters to the middle of a word
paragoge	addition of letters to the end of a word

The omission of letters and sounds

Name	Explanation	Example
aphaersis	omission of letters to the beginning of a word
syncope	omission of letters to the middle of a word
apocope	omission of letters to the end of a word

The switching of letters and sounds

Name	Explanation	Example
antisthecon	substitution of a letter or sound for another within a word
metathesis	transposition of a letter out of its normal order in a word

Combinations of these factors

synaeresis

Playing with the structure of sentences

Words (seem to) get lost

Name	Explanation	Example
ellipsis	omission of a word
zeugma	an ellipsis of a verb, in which one verb is used to govern several clauses
scesis onamaton	omission of the verb of a sentence
anapodoton	omission of a clause
aposiopesis	stopping a sentence in midcourse so that the statement is unfinished
occupatio	The orator promises not to speak of a certain thing - and does it the more provocatively by doing so

Repetions of words

Name	Explanation	Example
metaphor
metonymy
synekdoche
metalepsis

Figures of unusual word order

Name	Explanation	Example
metaphor
metonymy
synekdoche
metalepsis

Peculiar thoughts

Name	Explanation	Example
metaphor
metonymy
synekdoche
metalepsis

anthimeria