Asyndeton. Polysyndeton. Other peculiarities of the connectives.
Asyndeton a figure of speech in which one or several conjunctions are omitted from a series of related clauses. (Examples are veni, vidi, vici and its English translation "I came, I saw, I conquered".)
The connection of sentences, phrases or words without any conjunctions is called asyndentic.
Asyndeton helps the author to make each phrase or word sound independent and significant.
Asyndeton generally creates an effect that the enumeration is not completed.
Asyndeton also creates a certain rhythmical arrangement, usually making the narrative measured and energetic.
e.g. She watched them go; she said nothing; it was not to begin then.
Polysyndeton is the connection of sentences, phrases or words based on the repetition of conjunctions or prepositions.
The repetition of the conjunction “and” before each word or phrase stresses these enumerated words or phrases.
Polysyndeton is sometimes used to retard the action and to create the stylistic effect of suspense.
Besides, polysyndeton is one of the means used to create a certain rhythmical effect.
e.g. He put on his coat and found his mug and plate and knife and went outside.
There is a one more peculiar type of connection of sentences which for want of a term we shall call the gap-sentence link (GSL). GSL is a way of connecting two sentences seemingly unconnected and leaving it to the reader's perspicacity to grasp the idea implied, but not worded. Every detail of the situation need not be stated. Some must remain for the reader to divine.
The device of GSL is deeply rowed in the norms of the spoken language. The intonation helps in deciphering the communication.
"She says nothing, but it is clear that she is harping on this engagement, and—goodness knows what." (Galsworthy)
The gap-sentence link requires a certain mental effort to embrace the unexpressed additional information.
The gap-sentence link is indicated by and or but. The gap-sentence link as a stylistic device is based on the peculiarities of the spoken language and is used in represented speech.The gap-sentence link serves to signal the introduction of inner represented speech; it may be used to indicate a subjective evaluation of the facts; it may introduce an effect resulting from a cause which has already had verbal expression. In all these functions GSL displays an unexpected coupling of ideas. GSL aims at stirring up in the reader's mind the suppositions, associations and conditions under which the sentence uttered can really exist.
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34. Zeugma and pun
Zeugma, from Greek “yoking” or “bonding”, is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas.
For instance, in a sentence “John lost his coat and his temper”, the verb “lost” applies to both noun “coat” and “temper”. Losing a coat and losing temper are logically and grammatically different ideas that are brought together in the above-mentioned sentence. Zeugma, when used skillfully, produces a unique artistic effect making the literary works more interesting and effective as it serves to adorn expressions, and to add emphasis to ideas in impressive style.
A pun is a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings.
Humorous effects created by puns depend upon the ambiguities words entail. The ambiguities arise mostly in homophones and homonyms. For instance, in a sentence “A happy life depends on a liver”, liver can refer to the organ liver or simply the person who lives. Similarly, in a famous saying “Atheism is a non-prophet institution” the word “prophet” is used instead of “profit” to produce a humorous effect.
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