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LINGUISTIC
SIGNIFICANCE AND
FUNCTIONS OF LEXICO-
SYNTACTICAL STYLISTIC DEVICES:
ANTITHESIS
Scientific supervisor: G‘ofurova Sarvara Madaminjanovna
Valijonova Ominakhon Khamdamjon qizi
a fourth-year student of Bachelor’s degree
Andijan State Institute of Foreign Languages, Andijan, Uzbekistan
Annotation
: This thesis highlights the data related to one of the most crucial
branches of the stylistics in terms of antithesis as a lexico-syntactical stylistic devices.
Key words:
stylistic devices, figurative meaning, stylistic function, opposition.]
Language uses various stylistic devices which make use either of the meaning or
of the structure of language units. The term
figures of speech
is frequently used for
stylistic devices that make use of a figurative meaning of the language elements and
thus create a vivid image.[1]
Antithesis denotes a structure that stresses a sharp contrast in meaning between
the parts within one sentence:
Art is iong, iife is short'. One man’s meat is another
man’s poison'. Some peopie are wise, some otherwise.
(B. Shaw) \
As Caesar ioved me, 1 weep for hint, as he was fortunate, / rejoice at it', as he
was vaiiant, / honour him', but as he was ambitious, Isiew him. There’s tears for his
iove',joy for his fortune', honour for his valour, and death for his ambition
.[2]
(Shakespeare)
Youth is fuii ofpieasance.
Age is fuii of care'.
Youth iike summer morn.
Age iike winter weather (ib.)
Antithesis based on relative opposition, which arises out of the context through
the expansion of objectively contrasting pairs. E.g.: wisdom –foolishness; light –
darkness; everything- nothing. Don't use
big
words. They mean so
little
.
Mrs. Nork had a
large
home and a
small
husband. In marriage the
upkeep
of
woman is often the
downfall
of man. [3]
Antithesis is a confrontation of ideas in different sentences or parts of one
sentence
(A saint abroad and a devil at home)
. Types of antithesis: morphological
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(overworked
and
underpaid)
, lexical proper
(That’s one small step for a man, one
giant leap for mankind)
, developed (
It was the best
of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of
wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief, it
was the epoch of incredulity. It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness
(exposition to “The Tale of Two Cities” by Ch. Dickens)).
Antithesis (Gr. 'opposition') is the setting of one clause or a member of a sentence
against another to which it is opposed. The stylistic function of antithesis is to
emphasize contrasting features. Antithesis is frequently based on the use of antonyms
placed at the beginning and at the end of a sentence or in the same syntactic function
in one or several sentences,e.g.
From the caress in her voice, the look on her face, he
became certain that she wanted something from him, uncertain whether it would be
wise of him to give it to her
; (Galsworthy, L)
Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate.
(Shakespeare, S)
One can distinguish between two kinds of antithesees:
(a) Two words opposite in meaning characterize one and the same object,
exposing its contradictory nature, e.g
. Within you there were changes, building up of
tissues, breaking down of tissues;
(Cusack, SND)
As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st
In one of thine, from that which thou departest.
(Shakespeare, S)
(b) Two different objects connected with some spatial, temporal or causal
relations are given emphasized opposite characteristics, e.g.
He himself had always
been a worker and a saver. George always a drone and a spender
; (Galsworthy, L)
It
seemed to show the growth of something or other - or perhaps the decline of
something else
. (Galsworthy, L)
In poetry a whole stanza or poem can be based on antithesis, e.g.
Crabbed age and youth
Cannot live together;
Youth is full of pleasure,
Age is full of care
Youth like summer mom,
Age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave,
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Age like winter
bare.
Youth is full of sport,
Age's breath is short,
Youth is nimble, age is lame,
Youth is hot and bold
Age is weak and cold;
Youth is wild and age is tame,
Age, I do abhor thee
Youth, I do adore thee.
(Shakespeare, PP)[1]
The thesis highlights the importance of antithesis as a stylistic device used to
show contrasts and make language more expressive. By placing opposite ideas side
by side, antithesis creates clear and impactful imagery while adding depth to literary
and rhetorical works. Whether in word choice, sentence structure, or poetry, antithesis
is a versatile tool for showing contrasts in meaning. With examples from Shakespeare,
Dickens, and others, the study shows how antithesis helps make writing clearer, more
emotional, and more artistic. This research emphasizes its value in stylistics and its
role in enhancing language and literature.
REFERENCES
Бабенко
О.В.
Практикум
з
стилістики
англійської
мови:
Навчальнометодичний посібник для студентів зі спеціальності 6.020303
"Філологія" / О. В. Бабенко — К. : ВЦ НУБіП України, 2014. – 134 с.
Гуревич В.В. Г95 English Stylistics. Стилистика английского языка ; учеб,
пособие / В.В. Гуревич. — 3-е изд. — М.: Флинта : Наука, 2008. — 72 с.
Степанова, И. В. С79 Практикум по стилистике английского языка:
учебное пособие (на англ. яз.) / И. В. Степанова. – Челябинск: Энциклопедия,
2014. – 148 с.
(U. Lehtsalu G. Liiv O. Mutt) An Introduction to English Stylistics/ Tartu State
University, Chair of English Studies/ Tartu 1973.
