The functions of hyperbole and litotes in discourse completion test results of Hungarian university students
Part 1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18349/MagyarNyelv.2021.3.298Keywords:
hyperbole, exaggeration, litotes, discourse completion test, linguistic impression managementAbstract
This paper is motivated by the results of a discourse completion test that was created to focus on linguistic impression management. It is observed that hyperbole and litotes frequently occur in various situations with diverse functions. The study reviews the definitions of hyperbole and litotes in classical rhetoric and situates them in current pragmatic approaches as well. The functions of hyperbole and litotes are determined by pragmatic and contextual factors. The paper aims to systematize these functions as they occur in daily language use, and analyzes the relation between these phenomena and impression management. The latter aim is based on Nemesi’s (2000, 2010, 2011) observation claiming that the tools mentioned are devices of linguistic impression management. The discourse completion test was taken by 72 Hungarian university students. Based on the results, the paper adds the function of flattery to the main pragmatic functions of hyperbole as determined by Nemesi (2010). In the case of litotes, the answers exhibited the functions determined by Domonkosi (2009), mitigation and emphasis. The test results also show that, besides their main functions, hyperbole and litotes promote the realization of tactics of linguistic impression management, too.
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