A study of "Pleonasm" with reference to some biblical verses

Abstract EN

This study deals with 'pleonasm' as one of the figures of speech in English.

Pleonasm is defined as the use of superfluous words , phrases or sentences in speaking or writing.

Such a use often results in repetition of the same idea, as in '' I heard the conversation with my ears.

''.

What is superfluous is the phrase ''with my ears'' because it repeats a notion which is already part of the meaning of the verb ''heard'' : One hears with his ears.

In this study, it can be hypothesized that the superfluity of expressions in pleonasm is only apparent .The extra words, phrases or sentences used in pleonasm are not useless.

Accordingly, the present study aims at giving a somehow adequate investigation of pleonasm and the phenomenon it describes.

Moreover, it aims at identifying the rhetorical functions of this figure of speech in any text and analyzing various verses from the Holy Bible to show the purposes of using it in this selected literary work.

The present study has shown some conclusions , the most important of which is that the superfluous words, phrases and sentences used in pleonasm are not useless at all ; in fact in some situations they can be essential.

By repeating part of a message ,pleonasm emphasises or clarifies a particular idea.

This conclusion validates the hypothesis above.

The first part of this study is devoted to the theoretical framework of pleonasm.

It involves five main sections.

Section one presents a description of pleonasm.

Section two shows types of pleonasm.

Section three offers examples of pleonasm affecting sentences.

Section four introduces the rhetorical functions of pleonasm.

Section five deals with pleonasm as a fault.

The second part of this study provides the practical analysis of the device of pleonasm in some texts which are taken from various books of the Holy Bible.

The analysis includes identifying the pleonasms in these texts.

Then these pleonasms will be analyzed according to types of pleonasm and the functions it achieves.

Finally, the conclusion sums up the results of the study.