Writing Help 129 | - Freelance Writer
Apr 04, 2013 | #1
Using Advanced Rhetorical Devices to Surprise and Delight
Although there are enough rhetorical devices for me to double, triple, or even quadruple the length of this series, it is time to put it to bed, and I have chosen to do so on a pleasant, relatively uncomplicated note. There is no doubt that many of you read the title term of this article, and asked yourself, "What kind of a word is colloquialism?" However, the concept is a simple one to learn, and once you have it, you will not easily forget it.
To make things even easier from the beginning, colloquialism is sometimes referred to as local color, which should provide a clue as to what the device does, although there are some subtle differences between the two terms. Colloquialism is derived from the Latin word (also now an English word) colloquium, meaning speaking together. The idea of commonality and equality is an important one here, as the term has to do with speaking comfortably with one's peers. The following sentence provides a good example of colloquialism: "Dollars to doughnuts says you miss your next shot." Immediately it is obvious that this is not something that one would see or hear in formal speech, and this is at the core of colloquialism. Colloquialism is the use of words, linguistic structures, or phrases which, while common in informal speech, are not considered correct or proper in formal speech and writing. In the example above, dollars to doughnuts is a very informal expression which is often used in betting situations. Translated into more standard English, it means that the person offering the bet will wager a given number of dollars on a particular outcome (in this case missing the next shot), and if victorious, will accept that number in return, but in doughnuts rather than dollars. When this expression first arose, there was an enormous difference between the value of a dollar and the price of a doughnut, so it became a way of saying "I am so confident I will win this bet that I will bet money and get almost nothing in return." In a few years, however, although the expression will likely maintain its meaning, the value of doughnuts will surpass the same number of dollars, and future generations will have to do some historical research in order to make sense of the phrase.
Many colloquial phrases are confined to a given geographic area, and so their use in these instances can also be called local color. When a writer or speaker uses these expressions, it adds something of the flavor of a particular area to the utterance, making it both less formal and less general. If I were writing a novel set in England, for example, I might have one of the characters say something like "That bobby used his billy to brain the bandit." Now, while I doubt I would find a publisher for a novel containing this line, people would at least have to recognize the excellent use of colloquialism in this instance. Bobby is a local term for a police officer, billy is a local term for a police bat, and brain is a verb (in this case not confined only to the UK) meaning to strike someone in the head. Here, we have a combination of informal speech and geographically delimited terms which present both aspects of colloquialism clearly.
Colloquialism can also be used (albeit in a limited manner) in more formal settings, when the speaker wishes to show her comfort with an audience, or to create a humorous effect. In contemporary popular culture, the reigning master of colloquialism in a formal setting is Dr. Phil, who has made his fortune by helping millions with his quick wit, firm advice, and country charm. Though he is a Ph.D. involved in many serious issues, he uses colloquialisms to create a persona of simple straightforwardness and a comfortable atmosphere for his guests. Some notable examples include his recurrent line "Get real!" which is an informal way of saying that the person to whom he is speaking needs to realize the problems with what they are doing and stop doing it. "That dog won't hunt" is another favorite expression taken from his southern American background, meaning that a given individual or course of action will not be successful.
Colloquialism
Although there are enough rhetorical devices for me to double, triple, or even quadruple the length of this series, it is time to put it to bed, and I have chosen to do so on a pleasant, relatively uncomplicated note. There is no doubt that many of you read the title term of this article, and asked yourself, "What kind of a word is colloquialism?" However, the concept is a simple one to learn, and once you have it, you will not easily forget it.
To make things even easier from the beginning, colloquialism is sometimes referred to as local color, which should provide a clue as to what the device does, although there are some subtle differences between the two terms. Colloquialism is derived from the Latin word (also now an English word) colloquium, meaning speaking together. The idea of commonality and equality is an important one here, as the term has to do with speaking comfortably with one's peers. The following sentence provides a good example of colloquialism: "Dollars to doughnuts says you miss your next shot." Immediately it is obvious that this is not something that one would see or hear in formal speech, and this is at the core of colloquialism. Colloquialism is the use of words, linguistic structures, or phrases which, while common in informal speech, are not considered correct or proper in formal speech and writing. In the example above, dollars to doughnuts is a very informal expression which is often used in betting situations. Translated into more standard English, it means that the person offering the bet will wager a given number of dollars on a particular outcome (in this case missing the next shot), and if victorious, will accept that number in return, but in doughnuts rather than dollars. When this expression first arose, there was an enormous difference between the value of a dollar and the price of a doughnut, so it became a way of saying "I am so confident I will win this bet that I will bet money and get almost nothing in return." In a few years, however, although the expression will likely maintain its meaning, the value of doughnuts will surpass the same number of dollars, and future generations will have to do some historical research in order to make sense of the phrase.Many colloquial phrases are confined to a given geographic area, and so their use in these instances can also be called local color. When a writer or speaker uses these expressions, it adds something of the flavor of a particular area to the utterance, making it both less formal and less general. If I were writing a novel set in England, for example, I might have one of the characters say something like "That bobby used his billy to brain the bandit." Now, while I doubt I would find a publisher for a novel containing this line, people would at least have to recognize the excellent use of colloquialism in this instance. Bobby is a local term for a police officer, billy is a local term for a police bat, and brain is a verb (in this case not confined only to the UK) meaning to strike someone in the head. Here, we have a combination of informal speech and geographically delimited terms which present both aspects of colloquialism clearly.
Colloquialism can also be used (albeit in a limited manner) in more formal settings, when the speaker wishes to show her comfort with an audience, or to create a humorous effect. In contemporary popular culture, the reigning master of colloquialism in a formal setting is Dr. Phil, who has made his fortune by helping millions with his quick wit, firm advice, and country charm. Though he is a Ph.D. involved in many serious issues, he uses colloquialisms to create a persona of simple straightforwardness and a comfortable atmosphere for his guests. Some notable examples include his recurrent line "Get real!" which is an informal way of saying that the person to whom he is speaking needs to realize the problems with what they are doing and stop doing it. "That dog won't hunt" is another favorite expression taken from his southern American background, meaning that a given individual or course of action will not be successful.