Introduction to Figures of Speech

Relevance of the Topic

Figures of speech are the expressive force of the Portuguese language. They are responsible for injecting life, beauty, and complexity into our communications, whether written or spoken. Without the use of figures of speech, our expression would be monotonous and limited. Therefore, understanding them is crucial for the appreciation of literature and for the overall improvement of our communication skills.

Contextualization

Figures of speech are an essential part of the high school Portuguese curriculum. Located in the domain of stylistics, they bridge everyday language use and the art of literature and poetry. Without figures of speech, reading and interpreting literary and poetic texts would be limited. Moreover, they play a fundamental role in text production. Thus, understanding and mastering figures of speech are necessary skills for academic life, professional life, and personal enrichment.

Theoretical Development

Components of Figures of Speech

• Figures of words or tropes: Changes in meaning in isolated words that can occur due to various mechanisms, such as metaphor, metonymy, synesthesia, antonomasia, epithet, etc.

  • Metaphor: Uses a term in a figurative sense, replacing the word with another with which it has a resemblance. For example, "he's a cat" (in the sense of being cunning).
  • Metonymy: A word is replaced by another, having between them a connection or proximity relationship. For example, "drank a glass" (instead of drinking a beverage that is in the glass).
  • Synesthesia: Mixes different sensations in the same context. For example, "harsh voice" (audio and touch).
  • Antonomasia: Replacement of a proper name by an expression that refers to a quality of the person. For example, "The king of soccer" (Pelé).

• Figures of thought: They provoke a change in meaning in the message, without altering the words. Examples are irony, hyperbole, and euphemism.

  • Irony: Opinion that expresses the opposite of what is thought, usually in a humorous way. For example, "What a beautiful rainy day!"
  • Hyperbole: Exaggeration used with effects of expressiveness. For example, "I died laughing."
  • Euphemism: Expresses an idea in a "soft", less direct way. For example, "He left us" (instead of "He died").

Key Terms

• Stylistics: Branch of linguistics that studies the forms of expression of language, that is, how words are used to convey messages, drawing attention to their formal and artistic aspect.

• Figure of Speech: Intentional alteration of the meaning of a term, used with the aim of conferring greater expressiveness and beauty to communication.

• Tropes: Are the figures that are based on the change of meaning of a word, such as metaphor, metonymy, synesthesia, antonomasia, among others.

Examples and Cases

• Metaphor: In "Love is a fire that burns without being seen" by Camões, the comparison of love with fire is a metaphor.
• Metonymy: In "I read Jorge Amado" the word "read" replaces "books by".
• Synesthesia: In "Silence is white" there is a mixture of sensations (audio and vision).
• Antonomasia: In "The Pelé of basketball", Pelé replaces the name of a person who is skilled in basketball.
• Irony: In "What a beautiful day, it could rain", the word "beautiful" is used ironically to refer to a day with bad weather conditions.
• Hyperbole: In "I cried an entire ocean" the intensity of the crying is exaggerated.
• Euphemism: In "He departed" the expression is used to soften someone's death.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• Figures of speech are resources that allow altering the meaning of words or expressions, expanding the possibilities of expression and communication.

• Figures of words (or tropes) refer to the figures that alter the meaning of words. They include figures such as metaphor, metonymy, synesthesia, among others.

• Figures of thought are those that do not alter the meaning of the words themselves, but rather the idea or concept communicated. Examples include irony, hyperbole, euphemism, among others.

• The study of figures of speech is included in the scope of stylistics, which is the discipline that deals with the study of style in language.

Conclusions

• Figures of speech are essential in literature and in the art of communicating effectively and expressively.

• Mastery of figures of speech not only enhances reading and interpretation skills but also enriches written production and oral discourse.

• Figures of speech should not be considered just as stylistic meanders, but as constitutive and reflective elements of the complexity and diversity of language.

Exercises

1. Identify and classify the figures of speech in the following sentences:

   • "My eyes, stars in the sky of your face, shine with love." (metaphor, synesthesia)
   • "Brazil won 7 medals at the Olympics." (antonomasia)

2. Rewrite the sentence "Her smile is a full moon" using a metonymy. Your answer should be something like "Her smile is a/an [replace with a word that has a connection or proximity relationship with the full moon]".

3. Write a paragraph or a short poem using at least three different figures of thought.