Hyperbole in English (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521766357)

Non-literal language is ubiquitous in everyday life, and while hyperbole is a major part of this, it has so far remained relatively unexplored. This volume provides the first investigation of hyperbole in English, drawing on data from genres such as spoken conversation, TV, newspapers, and literary works from Chaucer to Monty Python. Combining quantitative and qualitative analyses, it uses approaches from semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis and classical rhetoric, to investigate in detail both speaker-centered and emotive aspects of hyperbole, and also addressee-related aspects, such as interpretation and interactional uptake. Illustrated with a range of diachronic case studies, hyperbole is also shown to be a main means of linguistic creativity, and an important contributor to language change. The book concludes with an exploration of the role of hyperbole in political speaking, humour, and literature. Original and in-depth, it will be invaluable to all those working on meaning, discourse, and historical linguistics.

Author: Claudia Claridge
ISBN-10: 0521766354
ISBN-13: 9780521766357
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 12/27/2010
Pages: 316
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.41lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.90d