Figures of Speech
Hyperbole
● Use of exaggeration as a rhetorical devices or figure of speech
● It emphasise, evokes strong feelings & create strong impressions
● Usually not meant to be taken literally
● Eg. They ran like greased lightning.
Homophone
● Word pronounced same as another word but differs in meaning
● Eg. rain, reign, rein
Homonym
● Identical spelling and punctuation
● Having different meanings
● Eg. the word pen. This can mean both "a holding area for animals" and "a writing instrument."
Irony
● The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite
● Typically for humourous or sympathetic effect
● Eg. Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it's great to be back”
Sarcasm
● Use of words usually used to either mock / annoy someone, or simply for humorous purposes
● Eg. "they're really on top of things" to describe a group of people who are very disorganized
Pun
● A joke exploiting the different people meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which
sound alike but have different meanings
● Eg. “the duck said to the bartender ‘ put it on my bill.’ “
Satire
● Use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise people’s stupidity
● Particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues
● Eg. political cartoons
Hyperbole
● Use of exaggeration as a rhetorical devices or figure of speech
● It emphasise, evokes strong feelings & create strong impressions
● Usually not meant to be taken literally
● Eg. They ran like greased lightning.
Homophone
● Word pronounced same as another word but differs in meaning
● Eg. rain, reign, rein
Homonym
● Identical spelling and punctuation
● Having different meanings
● Eg. the word pen. This can mean both "a holding area for animals" and "a writing instrument."
Irony
● The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite
● Typically for humourous or sympathetic effect
● Eg. Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it's great to be back”
Sarcasm
● Use of words usually used to either mock / annoy someone, or simply for humorous purposes
● Eg. "they're really on top of things" to describe a group of people who are very disorganized
Pun
● A joke exploiting the different people meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which
sound alike but have different meanings
● Eg. “the duck said to the bartender ‘ put it on my bill.’ “
Satire
● Use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise people’s stupidity
● Particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues
● Eg. political cartoons
