Aposiopesis
The aposiopesis (from ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις aposiṓpēsis , German ' dumbness ' , especially a figure among rhetoricians if one does not pronounce the required word ; Latin reticentia 'silence, silence, silence in the middle of speech, the breaking off', also obticentia, praecisio , interruptio ) is a special form of the ellipse (phatic ellipse), a rhetorical figure in which a sentence is broken off and the last part is replaced by a pause. For this reason, the aposiopesis in German is also referred to as a break in the sentence . Compare also the broken sentence (anacoluth).
The cancellation can be done e.g. B. expressing emotional overwhelm (cf. pathos ) or an unspoken threat. Sometimes you can be lost or looking for a word. Then it is a call for help. Often it is also a break-off that is intended to indicate common knowledge and the need to continue the sentence. The dialogue partner should complete the sentence mentally or aloud. In today's everyday language, it is also very common to break off a subordinate clause attached to a main clause immediately after the conjunction and to add another main clause, e.g. B .: "The idea is quite good, although ... I'm not completely convinced yet."
A special form is the apotropaic aposiopesis: the sentence remains unfinished so that a holy or cursed name does not have to be pronounced or “called”.
Examples
"Caesar came, saw and ..."
"Look, this is a ..."
"He can ..."
"Come with me, surely you are too ..."
"What! I? I would have -? Among my dogs -? With these little hands I would have -? "
"If I do not succeed in removing the count instantly: I think - yes, yes, I think he will certainly fall into this trap."
“Comrades! This letter - rejoice with me! "
“My sister-in-law, said my uncle Toby , would perhaps be embarrassed if a man came so close to her **** -. Put this dash and it is an aposiopesis ; "
“(Virgil speaks) But it is up to us to win in battle, he said, / if not - is he not mighty who offered himself / O how I want someone else close!"
- In German:
Related style figures
Individual evidence
- ^ Wilhelm Pape , Max Sengebusch (arrangement): Concise dictionary of the Greek language . 3rd edition, 6th impression. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig 1914 ( zeno.org [accessed on March 6, 2019]).
- ^ Karl Ernst Georges : Comprehensive Latin-German concise dictionary . 8th, improved and increased edition. Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hannover 1918 ( zeno.org [accessed March 6, 2019]).
- ^ Heinrich Lausberg : Handbook of literary rhetoric. A foundation. Franz Steiner, Stuttgart 1990, p. 438, § 887.
- ↑ set fraction & interruption in the set , wiwistudio.com
