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Paronomasia

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Author's Notes: This Tanka is a brief focused thematic write that touches on a noted rhetorical methodology which can be used in word play or pun scenarios to intentionally create a sense of confusion between words that have similar sounds but different meanings. "Paronomasia" has a number of categories which further define how this rhetorical concept can be employed by poets and writers in literature. Suffice it to say, that paronomasia is alive and well in literature and poetry today and has been well-traditionally employed in the works of Shakespeare, Donne, Dickens, Whitman, and Joyce -- among other literary greats. The essential rhythm of paronomasia finds it literary antecedents very much in the Greek and Latin languages, and in the way in which it's demonstratively used in Russian. It's a concept well-worth studying as all of us seek to further hone our poetic skills. (Gary Bateman - July 28, 2018) (Tanka)

Thematic Categories: language, literature, meaningful, onomatopoeia, poetry, word play, and words.

Paronomasia Rhetoric usage— A pun, a true play on words! Shades of confusion . . . Ditto sounds, other meanings . . . Phonetic pun poetic! Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved July 28, 2018 (Tanka)

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018




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Date: 7/28/2018 4:56:00 AM
Now that is an interesting one Gary, I must admit I had never heard if it until now. Tom
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Gary Bateman
Date: 7/28/2018 12:06:00 PM
Thanks Tom!! I appreciate your read. And now you know what this rhetorical concept is, and its relationship to poetry and literature. Many people use aspects of it daily in their writings and are probably not aware of its full scope of employment and usage. Best Always, Gary

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