Group 5: Nguyễn thị Phương Huyền, Quách Thị Phương Anh, Nguyễn Xuân Tùng,

Figures of speech、 fɪɡ.ər əv ˈspiːtʃ/

- Simile & metaphor; - Personification; - Metonymy; - Synecdoche /sɪ

ˈnek.də.ki/; - Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i/; - Litotes /laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/; - Irony /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/;

- Euphemism/ˈjuː.fə.mɪ.zəm/; Sound imitation (Onomatopoeia/ɒn.əˌmæt.əˈpiː.ə/)

So sánh & ẩn dụ; - Nhân cách hóa; -Hoán dụ; - Synecdoche; - Cường điệu; - Litotes; -Irony; - Uyển
ngữ; Giả âm thanh (Onomatopoeia)

Exercises and theirs answers

Figures of speech...................................................................................................1
1. Simile..........................................................................................................3
2. Metaphor...................................................................................................4
3. Metonymy (thay thế)...............................................................................7
4. Synecdoche (hoán dụ).............................................................................9
5. Personification (nhân hóa)....................................................................11
6. Hyperbole (cường điệu)........................................................................12
7. Litotes - giảm phân -nói giảm, nói tránh............................................13
8. Irony (Nói ngược)...................................................................................13
9. Euphemism (uyển ngữ, nói giảm).......................................................14
10. Onomatopoeia (Sound imitation)........................................................15

Definition:

Figures of speech
Figures of speech are literary techniques used to add depth, vividness, and
creativity to writing or speech. They can be used to convey a particular meaning
or to create an impact on the reader or listener.
Hình ảnh của lời nói là các kỹ thuật văn học được sử dụng để thêm chiều sâu, sinh động và sáng
tạo cho văn bản hoặc lời nói. Chúng có thể được sử dụng để truyền đạt một ý nghĩa cụ thể hoặc
để tạo tác động đến người đọc hoặc người nghe.

Figurative language, or figures of speech, are rhetorical devices writers and

speakers use to give words meaning beyond their usual, literal definitions.
Ngôn ngữ tượng hình, hoặc số liệu của lời nói, là những công cụ tu từ mà các nhà văn và diễn giả
sử dụng để đưa ra các từ có nghĩa vượt ra ngoài các định nghĩa thông thường, theo nghĩa đen
của chúng.
A figure of speech is “a word or phrase which is used for special effect, and
which does not have its usual or literal meaning.” [Richards et al, 1987: 105]

There are many different kinds of figures of speech, including simile, metaphor,
personification, hyperbole, Litotes – Irony- Euphemism; Sound imitation
(Onomatopoeia)metonymy, and synecdoche. Here, we will present just cover
some of the basic.

1. Similes are figures of speech that compare two things using the words
"like" or "as." For example, "He ran as fast as a cheetah" or "She is as
sweet as honey."
Simile is “the use of comparison of one thing with another, eg. as brave as a
lion, a face like a mask. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 848]

2. Metaphors, is a figure of speech that make a comparison between two

things without using "like" or "as." They create a stronger and more direct
comparison. Example: "Her voice is music to my ears" or "Life is a
rollercoaster."
3. Metonymy is the substitution of the name of one thing for that of another to
which it is related/with which it is associated
Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is replaced
with another word or phrase that is closely associated or related to it. The
substitution is based on the relationship between the two words. For
example, saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" uses metonymy by
substituting "pen" for "written words" and "sword" for "military force."

4. Synecdoche, is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to

represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part. This
substitution is based on the part-to-whole relationship. For example,
saying "all hands on deck" is a synecdoche because "hands" represent the
entire crew of a ship.

5. Personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities or

characteristics to inanimate objects or animals. For instance, "The wind
whispered through the trees" or "The flowers danced in the breeze."

6. Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or

dramatic effect. Examples include "I am so hungry I could eat a horse" or "I've
told you a million times!"
 7. - Litotes: A figure of speech where an affirmative statement is made by
negating its opposite. For example, saying "The ice cream is not bad" to
express that the ice cream is actually good.
8. – Irony nói ngược: A figure of speech where words are used to convey a
meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. It often involves a
contrast between expectations and reality. For example, saying "What a
beautiful day" when it is raining heavily.
9. – Euphemism uyển ngữ : A figure of speech used to replace an unpleasant or
offensive word or phrase with a milder or more socially acceptable one. For
example, using the phrase "he passed away" instead of "he died."
10. – Onomatopoeia (Sound imitation) từ tượng thanh: A figure of speech where
words are used to imitate or mimic sounds. For example, words like "buzz,"
"clang," or "meow" are examples of onomatopoeia.
1. Simile
This is one figure of speech that you may be familiar with from earlier English
classes. A simile is a comparison between two unlike things, usually using the
words "like" or "as." The presence of these two words tends to make similes
easy to identify on a test.
Similes are a commonly used technique in advertising. One example is the
slogan for the Chevy Silverado, which emphasizes the truck's toughness by
claiming it's "like a rock." Another is the catchphrase "Like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there."
EG:
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
– Forrest Gump.
This simile uses the word "like" to compare "life" wiht"a box of chocolates,"
two things that we would normally think of as unrelated. The comparison helps
to highlight the surprises life often brings our way. When we bite into a candy
from a variety box of chocolates we are unsure if the center will be peanut
butter, raspberry, or caramel. Similarly, we get out of bed each morning unsure
what will happen over the course of the day.
"A parson is like a doctor, my boy: he must face infection as a soldier must face
bullets." – Candida by George Bernard Shaw. Here, we actually
have two similes. The first simile uses the word "like" to compare the work of a
churchman to the work of a doctor. The second simile uses "as" to explain the
nature of the connection between the two: both parsons and doctors must
confront sickness in their daily work, just as a soldier must confront danger.
Notice again that "parson" and "doctor" originally seem like dissimilar
professions until given the explanation that follows.
Similes are figures of speech that compare two things using the words "like" or
"as." For example, "He ran as fast as a cheetah" or "She is as sweet as honey."
Simile is “the use of comparison of one thing with another, eg. as brave
as a lion, a face like a mask. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 848]

It is incredible to notice that not all comparisons belong to simile, eg. He is much
taller than his elder brother. Only the comparisons clearly employed as examples of
figures of speech do.

2. Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech frequently taught to help illustrate the
differences between the two. Unlike a simile, a metaphor states that an object or
idea is in some way the same as another, seemingly unrelated thing.
For example, where a speaker using a simile to insult someone might say, "He's
like a rat," a speaker using a metaphor would say something like, "He's a real
rat!" Of course, the person being insulted is not literally a rat; instead, the
speaker is using a metaphor to draw a connection between his victim and a
rather unsavory animal.
Some Examples
"That test was a total breeze." – common expression.
This simple statement is a great example of a metaphor. The speaker does not
actually mean that the test was a light current of wind. Instead, she says that the
test was "a breeze" to indicate that the test and a light wind are the same since
both are easy, gentle, and present no difficulty.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies
are gray." – popular song. The lyrics to this popular song are another very
simple example of the direct connection a metaphor makes between two things.
Rather than saying her beloved is "like" sunshine, the speaker says that her
beloved is sunshine.
Metaphors in Poetry: "A Coat" by W. B. Yeats
It is well known that the metaphor is a cornerstone of poetry. Just above, in the
section on similes, we discussed a sonnet by dramatist William Shakespeare—
and as we now know, although similes and metaphors are indeed different, their
difference is not enormous. Most poems utilize one or more metaphors, making
the metaphor one of the greatest figures of speech in the poet's toolbox.
This coat is not just any old coat, however, but a coat "Covered with
embroideries / Out of old mythologies / From heel to throat." That is, it is a
complex coat whose entire outer layer has been elaborately decorated with
Yeats's persona and interests in Celtic and Greek mythology. The complexity
and fullness of the coat (or song) speak to the poet's dedication to his craft and
his tireless efforts in poetry.
The poem then states that Yeats's writing practice was hijacked by "fools" who
"Wore it in the world's eyes / As though they'd wrought it." This can be
interpreted as meaning that the poet's contemporaries and fellow writers have
plagiarized or imitated Yeats's work and they've therefore unfairly laid claim to
the ground he broke as an author. To the world, they seem like originals, but
Yeats knows differently.
Finally, Yeats speaks directly to his writing practice: "Song, let them take it." He
in effect shrugs at what's happened and says that his contemporaries will do as
they wish. Perhaps, after all, he does not need his elaborate coat any longer, and
can go on developing his writing practice while "walking naked." In other
words, he will shed his old image and present a new, less-adorned version of
himself to the world.
As we can see from this brief analysis, the entirety of Yeats's poem "A Coat" is
an extended metaphor that revolves around Yeats's relationship to his own
writing practice. This is the centrality of the metaphor to poetry; this figure of
speech can create and run through entire poetic works.
Metaphor is “the use of a word or phrase to indicate
something different from (though related in some way to) the
literal meaning, as in I’ll make him eat his words or She has a heart
of stone.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 564]
2.1.1.1 Distinction between a simile and a metaphor
A simile is an explicit or direct comparison in which
something is compared to something else by the use of a function
word such as like or as:

- My hands are as cold as ice. (= My hands are very cold.)

- Tom eats like a horse.
(= Tom eats as much as a horse does. In other words, Tom’s

appetite IS explicitly COMPARED TO that of a horse.)

A metaphor is an implicit or indirect comparison in which no
function word is used. Something is described by stating another thing
with which it can be compared:

- She has a heart of stone.

(= She has a pitiless and unfeeling nature.)
 - I’ll make him eat his word.
(= I’ll make him admit that what he’s said is wrong.)

- He was a lion in the fight.

(= He fought bravely and successfully just like a lion
in the fight for food.)

- His words stabbed at her heart.

(= Like a knife, his words are so sharp that they can cause
great pain or much unhappiness for her. In other words, his
words did not actually stab, but their effect IS implicitly
COMPARED TO the stabbing of a knife.)

2.1.1.2 Distinction between dead metaphors18 and live metaphors

Dead metaphors are used so often that they have lost
their metaphoric characteristics: the leg/face of the table, the
back of the chair, the mouth of the river, the head of the state,
the childhood of the earth, etc.

Dead metaphors are in fact idioms19 or fixed expressions

that native speakers of a language give special meanings and use

naturally and unconsciously: these speakers do not pay attention to
the implicit comparison found in any dead metaphor; they just
think directly of its meaning used in a given context:
- He looks as though he hasn’t had a square meal for months.
(= a large and satisfying meal)

- He washed his hand out of the matter.

(= refused to have anything more to do with the matter)

Live metaphors20 are implied or indirect comparisons which

have a variety of figurative meanings through their endless
use: Tom is a pig may be interpreted as Tom is short and fat, Tom
is slow and lazy, Tom is greedy, Tom is not intelligent, Tom is
neither intelligent nor ambitious, etc.
Live metaphors can only be understood after the implicit
comparison found in any of them is seriously considered and fully
appreciated. Native speakers of a language use live metaphors
intentionally and creatively in order to make their speech more vivid,
figurative, concise, etc.: You are a mist that appears for a little
time and then vanishes.
 (= You are implicitly compared to a mist that does not last
long, i.e. you come and leave quickly.)
3. Metonymy (thay thế)

2.1.1.3 Definition
Metonymy is the substitution of the name of one thing for
that of another to which it is related/with which it is
associated. (In Greek, meta- means ‘substitution’ and onyma
means ‘name’.)
A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or symbolizes. Một dấu hiệu thay thế
cho người hoặc đối tượng mà nó biểu thị hoặc tượng trưng.

(a)
- He succeeded to the crown (= the royal office).
- She is a fighter against red tape (= bureaucracy, office routine).
- The new proposal might affect the cloth (= the clergy) in some way.
- Backstairs did influence.
(= intrigues, secret plans to do something bad, secret arrangements)

- Can you protect your children from the cradle to the grave?
(= from childhood to death)

(b) An instrument substitutes for an agent.

-The pen (= the writer) has more influence than the sword

(= the soldier).

- He is the best pen (= the best writer) of the day.

- Who brought fire and sword (= a destructive war) into our country?
- We need a force of a thousand rifles (= soldiers).
- Sceptre and crown (= kings)
Must tumble down,

And in the dust be equal made

With the poor crooked scythe and spade (= peasants).

[James Shirley]
(= Like peasants, kings must die.)

(c) A container substitutes for the thing contained.

- The kettle (= the water in the kettle) is boiling.
 - He drank the cup.
(= the coffee, the tea, the chocolate, etc. in the cup)

- He is too fond of the bottle (= the liquor in the bottle).

- The conquerors smote the city (= the inhabitants of the city).
- Why don’t you recognize the power of the purse?
(= the money kept in the purse)

(d) The concrete, like an organ of the human body,

substitutes for the abstract such as love, hatred, sincerity, a mental
ability, a natural talent, etc.

- She has an ear for music. (= She possesses a remarkable talent

for learning, imitating, appreciating, etc. music.)

- She has a good head of business.

(= She is gifted in/is clever at dealing with business.)

(e) The abstract substitutes for the concrete:

- His Majesty (= the king) died a year ago.
- His Holiness (= the Pope) has just come back to Rome.
- The authorities put an end to the riot.
(= the group of people who have the power to give orders or take action)

(f) The material substitutes for the thing made.

- The marble (= the marble statue21) speaks.
- All our glass is kept in the cupboard. (=
vessels and articles made of glass)
- He was buried under this stone.
(= this tomb made of stone, this tombstone)

(g) An author/a producer/a place where goods are made

substitutes for his work(s)/its product(s).

- I have never read Keat (= Keat’s poems).

- Have you ever read Homer (= the works of Homer)?
- I love old china (= crockery made in China).
A scene found in a fairly tale shows the prince of a kingdom going for a walk in his garden.
When passing by the marble statue bức tượng bằng đá cẩm thạch,, he notices a sweet call:
“My dear prince!”
 2.1.1.4 Distinction between metaphor and metonymy
On the one hand, metaphor is based on the associated similarity
shared by the two things being implicitly compared. In other
words, only if A and B are similar to each other in some way can the
name commonly referred to A be metaphorically used to refer to B.
On the other hand, metonymy does not depend on such
similarity.
Let’s consider the two following sentences:
(1) The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
(2) No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the
continent.
The sentence marked (1) exemplifies a metaphor: the core
meaning of keep the brake on a certain vehicle in order to reduce its
speed or to stop it has been changed to its metaphoric meaning:
control pay rises or cause pay rises to slow down.

The whole sentence means the organization is controlling the

increase in the amounts/sums of money paid for its current
activities.
This sentence marked (2) consists of two metonymies:
respectively, an island and the continent, which are both
[+concrete], stand for isolation and community, which are both
[+abstract].
The whole sentence means no one can isolate himself from the
community he has been living in.

4. Synecdoche (hoán dụ)

Synecdoche

Definition

Synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy in which “a part or aspect of a person, object, etc. is
meant to refer to the whole person, object, etc.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 925]

Synecdoche là một loại metonymy đặc biệt trong đó "một phần hoặc khía cạnh của một người,
đối tượng, v.v. có nghĩa là đề cập đến toàn bộ con người, đối tượng

They organized a fleet of fifty sails (= ships).

He is a man of seventy winters (= years of age).

He managed to earn his bread (= necessaries).

This is a village of only more than one hundred souls

(= people).

Gray hairs (= old or elderly people) should be respected.

Synecdoche also involves a whole or genus used to substitute for a part or species:
vessel for ship, the smiling year for the smiling season of the year, especially the spring,
the Christian world for the Christian Church as a whole, etc.

Distinction between metonymy and synecdoche

Let’s consider the four following sentences:

The princess captures the hearts of the nation.

The hearts, which is [+organ of the human body] and thus [+concrete], is used to stand
for the love, which is [+emotional experience] and thus [+abstract]. The hearts in this
case is a metonymy. The sentence means all the people of that country love the princess.

He has a kind heart.

A heart, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and [+part], is used to stand for a person,
which is [+human], [+concrete] and [+whole]. A kind heart in this case is a synecdoche. The sentence

means he is a kind/kind-hearted person who is concerned for others around him.

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

The rod, which is [+thing] and thus [+concrete], is used to stand for the punishment, which is [+human
activity], [+intention] and thus more or less [+abstract]. The rod in this case is a metonymy. The
sentence means if you do not punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.

All hands on deck did help.

Hands, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and [+part], is used to stand for people, which
is [+human], [+concrete] and [+whole]. In this case, hands must be a synecdoche. This sentence means
all the people on one of the floors of the ship worked hard to accomplish a certain task.

Metonymy and synecdoche are both figures of speech that involve the use of substitution. However, they
differ in the way they make substitutions.

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is replaced with another word or phrase that is
closely associated or related to it. The substitution is based on the relationship between the two words.
For example, saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" uses metonymy by substituting "pen" for
"written words" and "sword" for "military force."
Synecdoche, on the other hand, is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the
whole, or the whole is used to represent a part. This substitution is based on the part-to-whole
relationship. For example, saying "all hands on deck" is a synecdoche because "hands" represent the
entire crew of a ship.

In summary, metonymy involves substituting a word with a related word or phrase, while synecdoche
involves substituting a part for the whole or vice versa.

5. Personification (nhân hóa)

Personification is a special kind of metaphor in which some human
characteristic is attributed to an inanimate object or abstract notion; that is, a
lifeless thing or quality is stated as if it were living, as in pitiless cold, cruel
heat, a treacherous calm, a sullen sky, a frowning rock, the thirsty ground, the
laughing harvest, the childhood of the world, the anger of the tempest, the
deceitfulness of riches, etc.
Nhân cách hóa là một loại ẩn dụ đặc biệt trong đó một số đặc điểm của con người được quy cho
một vật thể vô tri hoặc khái niệm trừu tượng; Đó là, một thứ hoặc phẩm chất vô hồn được tuyên
bố như thể nó đang sống, như trong cái lạnh đáng thương, cái nóng tàn nhẫn, một sự bình tĩnh
nguy hiểm, bầu trời ủ rũ, một tảng đá cau mày, mặt đất khát, mùa màng cười, tuổi thơ của thế
giới, sự tức giận của cơn bão tố, sự lừa dối của sự giàu có, v.v.

Personification, also known as "anthropomorphism," is the attribution of any and

all human qualities to non-human things. These can be objects, events, ideas, or even
living, non-human things.

Nhân cách hóa, còn được gọi là "chủ nghĩa nhân hóa", là sự quy kết của bất kỳ và tất cả các phẩm
chất của con người cho những thứ không phải con người. Đây có thể là những đồ vật, sự kiện, ý
tưởng, hoặc thậm chí là những thứ sống, không phải con người.

As an aside, personification is sometimes confused with the poetic device of "pathetic

fallacy," which refers specifically to the projection of human emotions onto non-
human things and is mostly used to develop tone or reveal a character's state of mind.
A good poetic example of the pathetic fallacy is in Robert Browning's "Porphyria's
Lover."

1. "The other houses of the street, conscious of decent lives within them,
gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces." – "Araby" by
James Joyce.
In this example, James Joyce brings his scene to life by describing houses as
"conscious" of the families living within them and possessing "faces" with
which they "gaze." Of course, none of this is meant to be taken literally; the
 houses are not truly alive. Instead, the description provides a sense of the
atmosphere in the neighborhood—one of respectability and perhaps even
privacy, in which even the houses seem to respect the "decent lives" they
conceal and stand "imperturbable" in the knowledge of that decency.
2. "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, / Close bosom-friend of the
maturing sun; / Conspiring with him how to load and bless / With fruit the
vines that round the thatch-eves run" – "To Autumn" by John Keats.

This example is interesting because, in it, John Keats directly addresses the
season of autumn as if it were a person (not unlike how Yeats addresses his
own writing practice as if it were a coat). He also refers to it as a "friend" to the
sun, capable of "conspiring" to provide fruit to the season's vines. In this way,
Keats ascribes human qualities to an abstract idea, the time of year.
3. "First to go, Truth, squealing like a fink: / 'Don’t! I’ll tell awful things
about you!' / 'Oh yeah? Well, I’ve nothing to hide ... OUT!' Then went
God, glowering & whimpering in amazement" – "The Whole Mess ...
Almost" by Gregory Corso. Here is yet another interesting example from
poetry. In Gregory Corso's poem, he uses personification to assign human (and
also inhuman) qualities to abstract concepts. First, he refers to Truth as
"squealing like a fink" as he throws it out of his apartment window. Truth even
holds a brief dialogue with Corso in an attempt to save itself. Next, the poet
chucks God out of the window, as he/she/it glowers and whimpers, amazed at
Corso's wild abandon. In this way, Corso's poem personifies numerous abstract
concepts in startling ways.
6. Hyperbole (cường điệu)

Hyperbole, which is also called overstatement, is the use of

“exaggerated statement that is made for special effect and
is not meant to be taken literally.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 446]
Cường điệu, còn được gọi là phóng đại, là việc sử dụng "tuyên bố mở
rộng được thực hiện cho hiệu ứng đặc biệt và không có nghĩa là được thực
hiện theo nghĩa đen

Below are a few hyperboles or overstatements:

- I’ve invited millions of (= a lot of) people to my party.

- She sheds floods of tears (= cries a lot) whenever she is upset.
- Don’t live in such a sea of doubt!
(= Don’t be too suspicious!)

- Never in a million years will he admit defeat.

(= He will never admit defeat.)

- I haven’t seen you for ages.

(= for a few weeks, for a couple of months, for a while)
 7. Litotes - giảm phân -nói giảm, nói tránh

Litotes, which is also called meiosis, is the use of deliberately

gentler, milder or weaker statements to express something in
a controlled way.
Sử dụng các từ nhẹ nhàng hơn, giảm hơn hoặc yếu hơn để thể hiện
điều gì đó một cách có kiểm soát.

- I don’t think I would agree with you. (= I disagree with you.)

- I am afraid that no passenger is allowed to smoke in here.
(= You are not allowed to smoke in here.)
Quite often, an expression of litotes is an “ironical
understatement, especially using a negative to emphasize

the contrary.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 527]

- It’s not bad. (= It is fine.)

- It wasn’t easy. (= It was very difficult.)
- Always remember that she is no fool.
(= She is worldly-wise, in fact.)

- Jim was rather upset when he again failed in the final

exam. (= very upset)

8. Irony (Nói ngược)

Irony is the “expression of one’s meaning by saying the direct

opposite of one’s thoughts in order to be emphatic, amusing, sarcastic,
etc.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 479]

<=>Nói ngược: biểu hiện ý nghĩa của một người bằng cách nói ngược
lại trực tiếp với suy nghĩ của một người để nhấn mạnh, gây cười, mỉa mai,
v.v." [Crowther (chủ biên), 1992: 479]

Below are a few expressions of irony:

- What a lovely day it was! Everything I had went wrong.

- He is so intelligent that no examiner has agreed to pass him
so far.

- He is lucky to have such an ugly and awkward wife.

- She is extremely unlucky to be born
in such a prosperous family in a developed European country.

- Your plan is really tricky. The other team will figure it out
in about one play.
 9. Euphemism (uyển ngữ, nói giảm)

2.1.1.5 Definition
Euphemism is “the use of pleasant, mild or indirect words or
phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones.” [Crowther
(ed.), 1992: 305] Respectively, morticians (also called undertakers)
and a garbage man may be euphemistically replaced by funeral
directors and a sanitation engineer.
Uyển ngữ là "việc sử dụng các từ hoặc cụm từ dễ chịu, nhẹ nhàng hoặc gián tiếp thay cho những
từ hoặc cụm từ chính xác hoặc trực tiếp hơn." [Crowther (chủ biên), 1992: 305] Tương ứng, các
nhà xác (còn được gọi là người đảm nhận) và một người dọn rác có thể được thay thế một cách
uyển chuyển bởi các giám đốc tang lễ và một kỹ sư vệ sinh.

2.1.1.6 Distinction between a taboo word and a euphemism.

Phân biệt giữa một từ cấm kỵ và một uyển ngữ.
A taboo word, a ‘dirty’ word, is the word or the linguistic
expression that refers to a taboo act or behaviour in a society, a culture
or a speech community while a euphemism is the word or the linguistic
expression that replaces a taboo word or serves to avoid a frightening
or unpleasant subject.
It is crucial to recognize that a taboo word and its euphemism share the
same denotative meaning but they differ in their connotative meanings: the
taboo word has a negative connotation whereas its euphemism has a
positive connotation.
Below are a number of common euphemisms and their taboo words:

Euphemisms Taboo words

social disease syphilis
criminal assault rape
handicapped crippled
mentally ill insane
underprivileged poor
developing or less developed (country) poor (country)
(more) developed (country) rich (country)
senior citizens the aged
laid to rest buried
perspiration sweat
intoxicated drunk
abdomen belly
odour stink or smell
expectorate spit
retarded or unusual mentally defective
hard of hearing deaf
 love child bastard
Below are a few expressions of euphemism:

- Pass away is a euphemism for die.

- He was his Majesty’s guest for two years is a euphemism for
He was in jail for two years.

10.Onomatopoeia (Sound imitation)

Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds by means

of words or groups of words. Hiss, cuckoo, thud, moo, baa,
hush, pop, etc. are onomatopoeic words. Growl, splash, crackle,
etc. exemplify semi-onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia can be identified in the following sentences:
- She is always squeaking and squawking.
- We could hear the enemy guns booming (away) in the distance.
- He felt a tap on his shoulder.
- Rain was dripping down from the trees. Its steady drip kept me
awake all night long.

Exercise: Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what kind of figures of
speech (also called figurative language) used in each of them. Giải thích ý nghĩa của các câu
sau và nêu loại hình lời nói (còn gọi là ngôn ngữ tượng hình) được sử dụng trong mỗi câu đó.

1. When he gets going, Jack is a streak of lightning (vệt sét-

This sentence is a metaphor).

2. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry. Your
kindness really moved me. (Irony /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/);

3. The man is a demon for work. (Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i/)

4. When you take that course, plan to study thirty hours a day.
(Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i/)

5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night. (Personification;)
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.
(Metonymy);

7. My dormitory room is like a cave. (Simile)

8. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.( metaphor)

9. Dick was fairly pleased when he won the brand-new car in the contest.
(metaphor)

10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.

11. Man does not live by bread alone. .( metaphor)

12. We now live under the same roof. .( metaphor

13. Albert was as sharp as a tack this morning. He answered every

question as soon as it was asked. (Simile)

14. The river ate the bank away. (Personification)

15. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon you’ll weigh a
thousand pounds. (Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i)

16. After she heard the good news, she grinned like a mule eating briars. (Simile/
Onomatopoeia)

17. The captain was in charge of one hundred horses. . (Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i)

18. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars. (Litotes)

19. You can depend on Gina; she is a rock when trouble comes. (Metarphor.)
1. Life is a dream. (Metarphor.)

2. He’s so hardheaded that he won’t listen to anyone. (Hyperbole haɪ

ˈpɜː.bəl.i/)

3. Research says that these methods are best. (Personification); -

4. Right at this minute, I could drink a barrel of water without stopping.

(Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i/);

5. It is amazing what a great mind he is. (Irony /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/)

6. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze. (Simile)

7. Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress. (metaphor)

8. A thousand thanks are for your kindness. (Hyperbole haɪˈpɜː.bəl.i/;)

(Irony /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/;)

9. I walked past the big sad mouth which didn’t know what to say then.

10. We are tired to death of such movies.

11. Give every man thine ears, bid a few thy voice.

12. There was a storm in Parliament last night.

13. I’m afraid he has misrepresented the facts. (Litotes)

14. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.

15. We’ll just have to go our separate ways.(metaphor)

16. They were vital, unforgettable matches that gave us a new window
on the game. metaphor
Đó là những trận đấu quan trọng, khó quên đã mang lại cho chúng
tôi một góc nhìn mới về trận đấu.

17. I’ve told you a thousand times not to touch that again.(hyperbole)

18. He is as mute as a fish.(metaphor)

19. We stopped to drink in the beautiful scenery (metaphor).

20. His words can be trusted.(

21. The police team has cemented close ties with the hospital staff.
(metaphor)
Đội cảnh sát đã củng cố mối quan hệ chặt chẽ với các nhân viên bệnh viện.

22. The boss gave her a hot look.

23. He could not bridle his anger. (Metaphor)

Anh ấy không thể kiềm chế được cơn giận của mình.

24. He attacked every weak point in my argument.

25. Anh ấy tấn công mọi điểm yếu trong lập luận của tôi

26. In 1940, after the fall of France, England had no defense left but her
ancient valor. (metonymy)

27. The fire snaps and crackles like a whip; its sharp acrid smoke stings the
eyes. It is the fire that drives a thorn of memory in my heart.
(metaphor)
28. Lửa bùng lên như roi; làn khói cay nồng của nó làm cay mắt.
Đó là ngọn lửa đốt cháy nỗi nhớ trong tim tôi.
29. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises. Tổ chức đang kiềm chế
 việc tăng lương (metaphor)

30. Her father is a captain of industry. (metaphor)

31. I am the captain of my soul. (metaphor)

32. To fall out of a tree in one’s early childhood is not a particularly

reassuring experience.(metonymy)

33.No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.

(metaphor)
34.. Không ai là một hòn đảo: toàn bộ chính nó; mỗi người đàn ông là một phần
của lục địa.

some exercises on simile, metaphor, and personification along with their

answers:

Exercise 1: Identify whether the given statement is a simile, metaphor, or

personification.

1. Her eyes were as bright as stars. (Simile)

2. He is a shining star. (Metaphor)
3. The wind whispered secrets in my ear. (Personification)
4. Life is a roller coaster. (Metaphor)
5. The mountain stood tall and proud. (Personification)

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences by adding a simile, metaphor, or

personification.

1. The waves crashed against the shore like ____________________.

Answer: The waves crashed against the shore like thunder.

2. Her anger burned like ____________________.

Answer: Her anger burned like a raging fire.

3. The moon smiled down on us like ____________________.

Answer: The moon smiled down on us like a proud parent.

4. The old house creaked and groaned like ____________________.

Answer: The old house creaked and groaned like an old man.

5. Time flew by like ____________________.

Answer: Time flew by like a speeding bullet.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the following sentences using either a simile,

metaphor, or personification.

1. The stars are twinkling in the night sky.

Answer: The stars are sparkling diamonds in the night sky. (Metaphor)

2. The wind blew gently through the trees.

Answer: The wind whispered sweetly through the trees.

(Personification)

3. Her smile is as bright as the sun. (Simile)

Answer: Her smile is a ray of sunshine. (Metaphor)

4. The car engine roared loudly.

Answer: The car engine screamed like a wild beast. (Simile)

5. The flowers danced in the breeze.

Answer: The flowers swayed gracefully in the breeze.

Exercises on metonymy, synecdoche, and hyperbole along with their
answers:

Exercise 4: Identify whether the given statement is an example of

metonymy, synecdoche, or hyperbole.

1. "The pen is mightier than the sword." (Metonymy)

2. "All hands on deck!" (Synecdoche)
3. "I've told you a million times!" (Hyperbole)
4. "The White House released a statement." (Metonymy)
5. "He has a heart of gold." (Metonymy)
6. The city was alive with excitement. (Metonymy)
7. Answer: She asked for his hand in marriage. (Synecdoche)
8. The news came straight from the horse's mouth. (hyperbole) cường
điệu).
Exercise 5: Complete the sentences by using metonymy, synecdoche, or
hyperbole.

1. I can smell Grandma's famous apple pie from ____________________.

Answer: I can smell Grandma's famous apple pie from miles away.
(Hyperbole)

2. All hands on ____________________.

Answer: All hands on deck. (Synecdoche) used to indicate that the involvement of
all members of a team is required.

3. The Crown announced a new law.

Answer: The Crown announced a new law. (Metonymy)

4. I'm so hungry, I could eat a ____________________.

Answer: I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse. (Hyperbole)

Exercise 6: Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the underlined

phrase with an example of metonymy, synecdoche, or hyperbole.
1. The city was buzzing with excitement.
Answer: The city was alive with excitement. (Metonymy)
2. The suits on Wall Street are making all the decisions.
Answer: The suits on Wall Street are making all the decisions.
(Metonymy)
3. She asked for his hand in marriage.
Answer: She asked for his hand in marriage. (Synecdoche)

Exercises on litotes and irony, along with their answers:

Exercise 7 . Identify the litotes , irony and euphemism in the following

sentence:
1. "This is not the smartest decision you've made."
Answer: "not the smartest" (litotes )
2. Identify the irony in the following sentence:
"I can't wait to go to the dentist!" (irony- mỉa mai, nói ngược)
Answer: The irony lies in expressing excitement or anticipation for an
event that is traditionally associated with discomfort or negative
experiences.
3. "He passed away peacefully in his sleep."
Answer: "passed away" is a euphemism for "died." (euphemism)
4. "She is expecting a little bundle of joy."
Answer: "bundle of joy" is a euphemism for a baby.
5. "He's in a better place now."
Answer: "better place" is a euphemism for death.

Exercise 8. Rewrite the following sentence using a litotes, dramatic irony,

and euphemism:
1. "The party was extremely crowded."
Answer: "The party was not lacking in people." (a litotes)
2. . "The audience knew that the character was going to die, but he was
clueless."
Answer: "The audience was aware of the character's fate, while he
remained oblivious." (dramatic irony)
3. "She got fired from her job."
Answer: "She was let go from her job." - euphemism:
4. "The company is downsizing and laying off many employees."
Answer: "The company is rightsizing and streamlining its workforce."-
Euphemism:

Exercise 9 :
1. Identify the onomatopoeic word in the following sentence:
1.1 "The dog barked loudly at the mailman."
Answer: "bark" is an onomatopoeic word that imitates the sound of a
dog.
1.2 "The rain pattered against the windowpane."
Answer: "pattered" is an onomatopoeic word that imitates the sound of
raindrops.
2. Rewrite the following sentence using an onomatopoeic word:
2.1 "The fire crackled and popped."
Answer: "The fire sizzled and snapped."
2.2 "The car engine roared as it sped down the highway."
Answer: "The car engine revved as it zoomed down the highway."

1. What is the role of Figure of Speech in Semantics within English Linguistics?

Figure of Speech in Semantics is a linguistic art form used to create language effects,
often by altering the conveyed meaning.
2. Why do people employ Figure of Speech in language use?
People use Figure of Speech to enrich language, generate interest, and convey
complex meanings in a creative manner.
3. How many types of Figure of Speech are defined in Semantics?
There are numerous types of Figure of Speech, including metaphor, simile,
personification, hyperbole, and more.
4. In what ways can Figure of Speech have a powerful impact on conveying meaning?
Figure of Speech can have a powerful impact by enhancing imagery, capturing
attention, or creating a unique comparison.
5. Could you provide an example of a common Figure of Speech and explain how it
alters the meaning of a sentence?
For example, metaphor utilizes the similarity between two different concepts to make
the meaning more vivid, such as "Time is a thief."
6. How does Figure of Speech contribute to creating a humorous effect in language?
Figure of Speech is often used to create a humorous effect by employing language in
an unconventional way, leading to unexpected twists.
7. What is the relationship between Figure of Speech and the transformation of
sentence meaning?
Figure of Speech often goes hand in hand with the transformation of sentence
meaning, making language richer and more diverse.
8. Why is there a scholarly interest in researching Figure of Speech in the field of
linguistics?
Scholars are interested in researching Figure of Speech to gain a deeper
understanding of how language is creatively used to convey meaning.
9. In what ways does Figure of Speech showcase creativity in language use?
Figure of Speech showcases creativity in language by introducing new and unique
language structures.
10. Is there a connection between Figure of Speech and the expression of emotions?
Yes, Figure of Speech is often used to express emotions strongly, ranging from joy to
sorrow.