Paradiastole (from Greek παραδιαστολή from παρά para "next to, alongside", and διαστολή diastole "separation, distinction") is the reframing of a vice as a virtue, often with the use of euphemism,[1] for example, "Yes, I know it does not work all the time, but that is what makes it interesting."[2] It is often used ironically.
Paradiastole has been described as "the rhetorical technique of evaluative redescription -- more popularly known as euphemism and dysphemism -- designed to enlarge or reduce the moral significance of something".[3] Another example is referring to manual labour as a "workout". Perhaps the most familiar usage today comes from the software world: "It's not a bug; it's a feature!" (This is used both euphemistically and literally, as many features in software originated as bugs).[4]
Usage to describe a listedit
In studies on classical antiquity, it has come to mean the repetition of disjunctive words in a list.
In biblical studies, paradiastole is a type of anaphora (the repetition of one word at the beginning of successive sentences). Paradiastole uses certain words—either, or, neither, not, and nor—as disjunctions.[5] A disjunction differs from a conjunction in that it separates things, whereas a conjunction joins them.
An example of this technique can be found in the Gospel of John, clarifying the meaning of τέκνα θεοῦ (God's children):
In this passage, οὐκ and οὐδὲ (here translated not and nor) function as the disjunctions. The paradiastole emphasizes that those who believed (οἳ πιστεύοντες) and became "God's children" were not physically ("of blood", etc.) born again, but divinely.
The French Enlightenment writer Voltaire remarked sardonically: "This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire."[7]
^Original text: Ce corps qui s'appelait et qui s'appelle encore le saint empire romain n'était en aucune manière ni saint, ni romain, ni empire. In Essai sur l'histoire générale et sur les mœurs et l'esprit des nations, Chapter 70 (1756)
March 14, 2024
paradiastole, from, greek, παραδιαστολή, from, παρά, para, next, alongside, διαστολή, diastole, separation, distinction, reframing, vice, virtue, often, with, euphemism, example, know, does, work, time, that, what, makes, interesting, often, used, ironically, . Paradiastole from Greek paradiastolh from para para next to alongside and diastolh diastole separation distinction is the reframing of a vice as a virtue often with the use of euphemism 1 for example Yes I know it does not work all the time but that is what makes it interesting 2 It is often used ironically Paradiastole has been described as the rhetorical technique of evaluative redescription more popularly known as euphemism and dysphemism designed to enlarge or reduce the moral significance of something 3 Another example is referring to manual labour as a workout Perhaps the most familiar usage today comes from the software world It s not a bug it s a feature This is used both euphemistically and literally as many features in software originated as bugs 4 Usage to describe a list editIn studies on classical antiquity it has come to mean the repetition of disjunctive words in a list In biblical studies paradiastole is a type of anaphora the repetition of one word at the beginning of successive sentences Paradiastole uses certain words either or neither not and nor as disjunctions 5 A disjunction differs from a conjunction in that it separates things whereas a conjunction joins them An example of this technique can be found in the Gospel of John clarifying the meaning of tekna 8eoῦ God s children oἳ pisteyontes oὐk ἐ3 aἱmatwn oὐdὲ ἐk 8elhmatos sarkὸs oὐdὲ ἐk 8elhmatos ἀndrὸs ἀll ἐk 8eoῦ ἐgennh8hsan John 1 13 6 They the believers not of blood nor of the flesh s desire nor of a man s desire but of God were born In this passage oὐk and oὐdὲ here translated not and nor function as the disjunctions The paradiastole emphasizes that those who believed oἳ pisteyontes and became God s children were not physically of blood etc born again but divinely The French Enlightenment writer Voltaire remarked sardonically This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire 7 See also editLitotes Meiosis figure of speech References editCuddon J A ed The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory 3rd ed Penguin Books New York 1991 Silva Rhetoricae 2006 Paradiastole Paradiastole Changing Minds Mark Rolfe Clashing Taboos Danish Cartoons the Life of Brian and Public Diplomacy 4 Hague J Dipl 261 2009 p 270 Smallwood and Cantrell 2011 6 Glitches That Accidentally Invented Modern Gaming Figures of Speech used in the Bible page 2 University of York 2006 Greek New Testament Original text Ce corps qui s appelait et qui s appelle encore le saint empire romain n etait en aucune maniere ni saint ni romain ni empire In Essai sur l histoire generale et sur les mœurs et l esprit des nations Chapter 70 1756 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paradiastole amp oldid 1207065222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
