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chiasmus / synchysis
Aug. 12th, 2011 07:36 amchiasmus (kai-AZ-muhs) - n., a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases; any linguistic structure with a pattern of A-B-B-A.
synchysis (SIN-ki-suhs) - n., a parallel structure in the order of words in two phrases; any linguistic srtucture with a pattern of A-B-A-B; (rhet.) a confused arrangement of words in a sentence, such as an inversion taken to extreme.
I like chiasmus, for chiasmatic structures are likeable. "He knowingly led and we followed blindly." It's useful all sorts of way for binding phrases together and highlighting that they are bound. It's also capable of quite subtle effects, such as when used as a pattern of alliteration binding four key words together without being obvious about it by alliterating all four on the same sound. The name comes from the Greek letter chi written Χ, which becomes clearer when you write the schema thus:
The great variety of meanings for synchysis (which is the much more common structure) comes from a technical use in Latin poetry, where a line in the form adjectiveA-adjectiveB-verb-nounA-nounB (inflections make it clear which adjective goes with which noun) is known as a golden line, which is a delicious device but involves no little deviance from standard word order. Both technical terms from ancient Greek rhetorical jargon.
Administrivia: Posting will be light early next week due to external obligations. I hope to return to posting by the end of the week, but no promises.
---L.
synchysis (SIN-ki-suhs) - n., a parallel structure in the order of words in two phrases; any linguistic srtucture with a pattern of A-B-A-B; (rhet.) a confused arrangement of words in a sentence, such as an inversion taken to extreme.
I like chiasmus, for chiasmatic structures are likeable. "He knowingly led and we followed blindly." It's useful all sorts of way for binding phrases together and highlighting that they are bound. It's also capable of quite subtle effects, such as when used as a pattern of alliteration binding four key words together without being obvious about it by alliterating all four on the same sound. The name comes from the Greek letter chi written Χ, which becomes clearer when you write the schema thus:
A B \/ /\ B A
The great variety of meanings for synchysis (which is the much more common structure) comes from a technical use in Latin poetry, where a line in the form adjectiveA-adjectiveB-verb-nounA-nounB (inflections make it clear which adjective goes with which noun) is known as a golden line, which is a delicious device but involves no little deviance from standard word order. Both technical terms from ancient Greek rhetorical jargon.
Administrivia: Posting will be light early next week due to external obligations. I hope to return to posting by the end of the week, but no promises.
---L.
