Litotes is a rhetorical device where the speaker denies the opposite of their statement for emphasis or a casual style. It can be achieved by forming a double negative or using words with similar meanings. It can add flavor, humor, or irony to speech, but can also be cumbersome.
Litotes is a type of construction used in rhetoric where the speaker makes a statement essentially denying the opposite of that statement. Depending on the nature of the speech, this technique can give emphasis to the statement or it can give it a casual style. Many speakers use litotes by taking the actual word they wish to use as a description and simply forming a double negative with it. The technique can also be achieved by using words similar in meaning to the word being negated and forming a double negative with these words.
Whether someone is giving a formal speech to a group or just talking to friends in normal conversation, it is common for rhetorical devices to be used; they enliven and add emphasis to the meaning of words. Often, these devices are used by the speaker unconsciously because they are commonly used in colloquial speech. Litotes is one such device.
A person can use litotes by simply turning the word he wants to convey its meaning into a negative and then negating that negative. For example, a person might want to say the phrase, “It’s common for it to rain this time of year around here.” To add a twist to that sentence, he might say, “It’s not uncommon for it to rain this time of year around here.” By using the negative form of “common,” the sentence gains some flavor.
Sometimes, using lithotes in this way can be cumbersome and embarrassing. For example, suppose someone wants to say, “I would allow those people into my house if they would visit.” It would be a bit cumbersome to say, “I wouldn’t exclude those people if they came to visit.” On the other hand, the person might use other words with a similar meaning to convey her point. She could say, “I wouldn’t turn those people away if they visited.”
There are many different ways that the use of litotes could add a little extra to a person’s speech. Often, the device is used to provide extra emphasis to the point a person is trying to make. Used correctly, it could also provide a touch of humor or irony to proceedings. In some context, it can also be used to indicate a carefree air on the part of the speaker, as the use of the negative can occasionally lessen the impact of the statement.
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