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Bohodir Jalolov

The investigation of oxymoron in the English and Uzbek languages

Sotib olish
The investigation of oxymoron in the English and
Uzbek languages
 
 
 
   
. 
1  
  CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION  ……….................................................................................3 
CHAPTER I . LEXICAL MEANING AND FORMATION OF STYLISTIC 
DEVICES ON ITS BASE………………………………………………….....…...7 
I.1 . Language units as means of stylistics…………………………………..…....7 
I.2.  Types of lexical meaning………………………………………………..…....11
I.3 . Theoretical opinions about Oxymoron…………………………………….....19
CHAPTER II  THE INVESTIGATION OF OXYMORON IN THE ENGLISH 
AND UZBEK LANGUAGES …………………………………………………...23 
II.1  Structural models of Oxymoron ..........................................................….....23 
II.2  Oxymoron and its usage in English literature……………………………......30
II.3  The usage of oxymoron in Uzbek literature……………………………….....34
CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………...40 
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………...42 
. 
2  
  INTRODUCTION 
One  of   the important  issues  in  educational   sphere in  Uzbekistan  is  to  raise
the quality of teaching education, especially teaching foreign languages in primary
and secondary special education. To reach the required standards the Republic of
Uzbekistan has accepted presidential decree N 1875 in December, 2012. Here the
president   of   the   Republic   of   Uzbekistan,   Islom   Karimov   said   that   “When   our
people have acquired independence after a very long period of time, when Uzbek
people began determining their own way of development there existed lots of inner
and outer threat aimed at overturning the newly born state, to disturb the peaceful
life   established   in   Uzbekistan.   The   Uzbek   people   understood   that   they   must
strengthen   the   independence   gained   and   what   hard   obstacles   were   waiting   us   in
further steps of the development”. 1
 
Thus this qualification paper is devoted to the study of teaching meaningful
(communicative) lessons to the students of EFL and ESL lessons. The qualification
paper presents an interest for both theoretical and practical significance. We must
admit that considerable number of researches have been devoted to on the problem
of   Oxymoron   of   the   English   language   as   a   foreign   language   (further   EFL).   The
researches   we   have   been   based   on   and   reviewed   were   carried   out   by   English,
American, Russian, Uzbek and other scholars as Galperin, Kukharenko, Musayev,
Qilichev   and   others.   They   have   developed   necessary   theoretical   backgrounds   for
describing English and Uzbek Stylistics.  
This   qualification   paper   is   devoted   The   investigation   of   oxymoron   in   the
English and Uzbek languages 
The actuality  of the work is that oxymoron is less studied unit among other
stylistic devices and also its specific features is not much revealed problem. 
The object  of the work is that the study of stylistic devices as oxymoron and
others in English and Uzbek. 
The subject matter  is stylistic device oxymoron and its use in English and  
Uzbek literature. 
1  I.A.Karimov Presidential decree№18/75 december12 2012  
. 
3  
  The hypothesis  of the work is that the study of stylistic devices more deeply
gives the opportunity to understand the literary works and their effectiveness and
emotionality in high level. 
The purpose  of the work is to open the main peculiarities of oxymoron and
show its role in speech. 
The purpose directs us to discuss the following problems to reveal the theme
and achieve desired goal.  So the tasks are : 
- to outline theoretical view about Stylistics as a linguistic discipline; 
- to speak about stylistic devices and their role in speech; 
- to discuss about the types of meanings ; 
- to survey the main peculiarities of these types of meanings; 
- to   speak   about   stylistic   devices   based   on   logical   and   emotional
meanings; 
- to study the functions of these stylistic devices; -   to   discuss   about
oxymoron and show its difference from other stylistic devices based on
emotional meaning; -   to point out the main functions of oxymoron
in speech; 
- to study the morphological and syntactical characteristics of oxymoron; 
- to analyse the examples with oxymoron in Uzbek and English literature. 
There   we   have   used   different   methods   as:   comparative,   analytical,
componential and synchronic ones. 
The   novelty   of   the   work   is   that   we   have   studied   oxymoron   in   English
language in comparison with Uzbek language. 
The   main   source   is   English   and   Uzbek   literature   about   Stylistics   and
Oxymoron. 
Also   we   have   seen   the   theme   in   two   or   three   levels   of   linguistics   as   from
stylistic lexical and morphological  points of view. More over we have stopped at
the problems of translation of oxymoron and some other stylistic devices. 
. 
4  
  The theoretical value  of this work is that the presented theories can be used
in   seminars   and   lectures   and   of   course   it   can   be   used   as   a   material   for   further
researches on the theme as a research on the theme as a research of masters degree
or soon. 
The practical value   is that the analysed examples can be used in seminars,
on stylistics, lexicology and the theoretical and practical translation. More over the
gathered examples can be useful for compiling manuals on stylistics. 
The structure  of the work is as following: 
Introduction, main part, conclusion, summary, bibliography. 
Introduction   states   the   actuality,   the   aim,   the   reason,   the   methods   of   the
qualification paper. It also gives brief information about the plot of the work. 
Main   part   includes   the   theoretical   ideas   and   practical   examples.   The
examples have been gathered from English, American and Uzbek writers work of
art. 
Chapter   I   deals   with   revealing   the   problems   of   theoretical   position   of
Stylistics among other linguistic sciences. 
Thus,Chapter   I   deals   with   the   functions   of   stylistic   devices   and   their
classifications and types. 
At the present moment we shall stop at each of them shortly. 
Stylistic   devices   are   formed   on   the   base   of   different   lexical   meanings.
Expressive means as stylistic means, stylistic devices and other terms are all used
indiscriminately.   For   our   purposes   it   is   necessary   to   make   a   distinction   between
expressive   means   and   stylistic   devices.   All   stylistic   means   of   a   language   can   be
divided   into   expressive   means,   which   are   used   in   some   specific   way   and   special
devices   called   stylistic   devices.   The   expressive   means   of   a   language   are   those
phonetic means, morphological forms, means of word-building and lexical, phrase
logical and syntactical forms all of which function in the language for emotional or
logical   intensification  of   the   utterance.   These  intensifying  forms   of  the  language,
. 
5  
  wrought by social usage and recognized by their semantic function have been fixed
in grammars and dictionaries. 
Chapter   II   deals   with   the   types   of   Lexical   meaning   and   stylistic   devices
formed   on   the   base   of   each   type   of   Lexical   meaning.   Lexical   meaning   of   words
can be divided: logical, nominal, emotional and as a subdivision contextual ones. 
Chapter II also deals with the problem of oxymoron as a stylistic device: 
revealing   its   own   features:   the   function   of   oxymoron   in   speech   and   some   other
problems. 
Oxymoron   is   based   on   the   interaction   of   logical   and   emotive   meanings.   It
presents a combination of two contrasting ideas: 
e.g.   a   pleasantly   ugly   face,   a   faithful   traitor,   low   skyscraper   or   in   Uzbek:
ochiq sir, sozlayotgan sukunat, shirin azob, saratondagi momoqaldiroq or so on. 
Morphologically oxymoron may be expressed by adjective +noun, adverb +
adjective + adjective or so on. 
The function of it in language is to give expressiveness and emotionality to
the   utterance.   The   ways   of   translation   of   oxymoron   into   Uzbek   is   rather
complicated   as   the   word   ugly   pretty   can   be   considered   neutral   or   emotional
combination   in   Uzbek   it   can   be   used   only   in   colloquial   and   in   literary   speech   it
turns   into   not   oxymoron   but   hyperbole   or   logical   attribute:   ugly   pretty-   dahshat
go’zal or go’zal malak” in literary speech 
“benihoya   go’zal”,   “go’zal   malak”   are   not   oxymoron,   they   are   hyperbole
and   epithet.   So   we   must   pay   great   attention   to   the   usage   of   words   and   word
combinations   according   to   the   context.   There   we   have   gathered   some   examples
that can be used in seminars and lectures. 
Chapter   III   deals   with   the   usage   and   analysis   of   Oxymoron   in   the   Uzbek
language.In all languages the function of Oxymoron is to give stylistic effect and
show the skill of poets or writers. 
   
. 
6  
  CHAPTER I. LEXICAL MEANING AND FORMATION OF 
STYLISTIC DEVICES ON ITS BASE 
I.1.Language units as means of stylistics 
In   linguistics   there   are   different   terms   to   denote   those   particular   means   by
which   a   writer   obtains   his   effect.   Expressive   means   are   stylistic   means.   Stylistic
devices   and   other   terms   are   all   used   indiscriminately.   For   our   purposes   it   is
necessary   to   make   a   distinction   between   expressive   means   and   stylistic   devices.
All stylistic means of a language can be divided into expressive means, which are
used   in   some   specific   way   and   special   devices   called   stylistic   devices.   The
expressive   means   of   a   language   are   those   phonetic   means,   morphological   forms,
means   of   word-building   and   lexical,   phrase   logical   and   syntactical   forms   all   of
which   function   in   the   language   for   emotional   or   logical   intensification   of   the
utterance. These intensifying forms of the language, wrought by social usage and
recognized   by   their   semantic   function   have   been   fixed   in   grammars   and
dictionaries.   Some   of   them   are   normalized   and   good   dictionaries   label   them   as
intensifiers. In most cases they have corresponding neutral synonymous forms. The
most  powerful expressive  means of any language are phonetic. The human voice
can   indicate   subtle   nuances   of   meaning   that   no   other   means   can   attain.   Pitch,
melody,   stress,   pause,   drawling   out   certain   syllables,   whispering,   a   sing-song
manner  of  speech   and other   ways  of   using  the voice  are  more  effective  than any
other means in intensifying the utterance emotionally or logically. 
Among the morphological expressive means the use of the Present Indefinite
instead   of   the   Past   Indefinite   must   be   mentioned   first.   This   has   already   been
acknowledged   as   a   special   means   and   is   named   the   Historical   Present.   In
describing   some   past   event   the   author   uses   the   Present   Tense,   thus   achieving   a
more vivid picture of what was going on. 
Among   word-building   means   we   find   a   great   many   forms   which   serve   to
make   the   utterance   more   expressive   and   fresh   or   to   intensify   it.   The   diminutive
suffixes   as   –y  [ie],   -   let,   e.g.  dear,   dearie,   stream,   streamlet,   add  some   emotional
coloring   to   the   words.   We   may   also   refer   to   what   are   called   neologisms   and
. 
7  
  noncewords formed with non-productive suffixes or with Greek roots, as; mistress
man ship, clean drama. 
At   the   lexical   level   there   are   a   great   many   words   which   due   to   their   inner
expressiveness,  constitute a special  layer. There are words with emotive meaning
only,   like   interjections,   words   which   have   both   referential   and   emotive   meaning,
like some of the qualitative adjectives; words which still retain a twofold meaning;
denotative   and   connotative;   or   words   belonging   to   special   groups   of   literary
English or of non-standard English and some other groups. The expressive power
of   these   words   cannot   be   doubted,   especially   when   they   are   compared   with   the
neutral vocabulary. 
The same  can  be said of  the set  expressions  of  the  language. Proverbs  and
sayings   as   well   as   catch-words   form   a   considerable   number   of   language   units
which   serve   to   make   speech   more   emphatic,   mainly   from   the   emotional   point   of
view. Their  use  in  every day  speech  can  hardly be  overestimated.  Some of  these
proverbs   and   sayings   are   so   well-known   that   their   use   in   the   process   of
communication passes  almost  unobserved; others are rare and therefore catch the
attention of the reader or the listener. 
Finally at the syntactical level there are many constructions which, being set
against   synonymous   ones,   will   reveal   a   certain   degree   of   logical   or   emotional
emphasis. 
Let us compare the following pairs of structures; 
«I have never seen such a film.» 
«Never have I seen such a film.» 
«Mr.Smith came in first.» 
«It was Mr.Smith who came in first.» 
The expressive means of the language are studied respectively in manuals of
phonetics,   grammar,   lexicology   and   stylistics.   Stylistics,   however,   observes   not
only the nature of an expressive means, but also its potential capacity of becoming
a stylistic device. 
. 
8  
  What then is a stylistic device? 
It   is   a   conscious   and   intentional   literary   use   of   some   of   the   facts   of   the
language in which the most essential features of the language forms are raised to a
generalized   level   and   thereby   present   a   generative   model.   Most   stylistic   devices
may be regarded as aiming at the further intensification of the emotional or logical
emphasis contained in the corresponding expressive means. 
This conscious  transformation of  a language fact  into a stylistic device has
been observed by certain linguists whose interests in scientific research have gone
beyond the boundaries of grammar. 
Thus A. A. Potebnja writes: 
«As far back as in ancient Rome and Greece and with few exceptions up to
the present time, the definition of a figurative use of a word has been based on the
contrast   between   ordinary   speech,   used   in   its   own,   natural   primary   meaning   and
transferred speech.” 
A.A.Potebnja thus shows how the expressive means of the Russian language
are   transformed   into   stylistic   devices.   He   describes   how   Gogol   uses   literal
repetition characteristic of folklore instead of allusions and references. 2
 
The birth of an stylistic device is not accidental. Language means which are
used  with  more  or   less   definite  aims   of  communication   and  in  one  and  the  same
function in various passages of writing, begin gradually to develop new features, a
wider range of functions and become a relative means of expressiveness alongside
the already recognized expressive means of the language, like proverbs or sayings,
diminutive   suffixes   and   the   like.   These   stylistic   devices   form   a   special   group   of
language means which are more abstract in nature than the expressive means of the
language.   It   would   perhaps   be   more   correct   to   say   that   unlike   expressive   means,
stylistic devices are patterns of the language where as the expressive means do not
form patterns. They are just like words themselves, they are facts of the language
2  Galperin I.R “Stylistic” Higher school Publishing House Moscow – 1971  
 
. 
9  
  and as  such are, or should be registered in dictionaries.  This can be illustrated in
the following manner: 
Proverbs   and   sayings   are   facts   of   language.   They   are   collected   in
dictionaries. There are special dictionaries of proverbs and sayings. It is impossible
to arrange proverbs and sayings in a form that would present a pattern even though
they have some typical features by which it is possible to determine whether or not
we are dealing with one. These typical features are: rhythm, sometimes rhyme and
alliteration. 
The   interrelation   between   expressive   means   and   stylistic   devices   can   be
worded   in   terms   of   the   theory   of   information.   Expressive   means   have   a   greater
degree   of   predictability   than   stylistic   devices.   Expressive   means   are   commonly
used in language and are therefore easily predictable. 3
 
Stylistic devices carry a greater amount of information because if they are at
all   predictable   they   are   less   predictable   than   expressive   means.   It   follows   that
stylistic   devices   must   be   regarded   as   a   special   code   which   has   still   to   be
deciphered. Stylistic devices are generally used sparingly, lest  should overburden
the utterance with information. 
In   this   short   survey   it   is   impossible   to   give   a   complete   analysis   of   all
expressive means of the language. The boundaries of stylistics are not limited with
the study of expressive means. In most cases we deal with stylistic devices. 
According   to   Prof.I.R.Galperin’s   definition:”It   is   a   conscious   and   intentional
intensification   of   some   typical   structural   or   semantic   property   of   a   language
unit{neutral or expressive} promoted to a generalized status and thus becoming a
generative model.” 
Stylistic   devices   must   always   have   some   function   in   the   text,   besides   they
bring   some   additional   information.   The   conception   that   words   possess   several
3  Galperin I.R “Stylistic” Higher school Publishing House Moscow – 1971  
Middeton J.M. “The Problem of Style” London. Oxford University Press – 1961. 
 
. 
10  
  meanings gives rise to such stylistic devices as metaphor, metonymy, irony, epithet
and others. 
Thus, we may draw the conclusion that expressive means are the facts of the
language.   While   stylistic   devices   are   the   property   of   the   speech.   They   are   the
creation   of   individuals{writers   and   poets}   and   are   based   on   the   peculiarities   of
existing expressive means of the language. This is in short the difference between
expressive means and stylistic devices. 
While speaking about stylistic devices we must always remember: the force
of one and the same stylistic devices may be different. In some cases the emotive
charge may  be  very  strong, in  others  it   may be  weak.  It   depends  on  the use   of   a
stylistic device in one and the same function. 
I.2. TYPES OF LEXICAL MEANING 
A   number   of   stylistic   devices   are   based   on   the   peculiar   use   of   lexical
meanings. Therefore it seems to be necessary to define with precision the types of
meanings words may have which we meet in stylistic devices. 
Words  can be  approached  from  multi   – various  aspects,   some  of   which go
beyond   the   boundaries   of   pure   linguistics,   though   they   are   deeply   rooted   in   the
texture of the language. The most common and acceptable definition of a word is
the following. A word is a language sign that expresses a concept by its forms and
meanings. 4
  By concept  is meant an abstract  or general idea of some phenomenon
of   reality   including   the   subjective   feelings   and   emotions   of   human   beings.   The
forms of a word are also said to have meanings. Therefore we distinguish between
lexical meaning and grammatical meaning, the former referring to the phenomena
of   objective   reality   and   the   latter   to   the   correlation   between   the   words   in   a
sentence. 
Both   lexical   and   grammatical   meaning   may   be   polysemantic.   This   means
that   a   word   may   have   a   number   of   meanings.   So   here   we   meet   the   first
contradiction   in   terms.   On   the   one   hand   a   word   expresses   a   concept   by   its
4  Galperin I.R “Stylistic” Higher school Publishing House Moscow – 1971  
Middeton J.M. “The Problem of Style” London. Oxford University Press – 1961.  
. 
11  
  meanings.   On   the   other   hand   each   meaning   may   denote   a   separate   concept.   The
contradiction   is  to  some  extent   removed  by  introducing  the  nation  of   progress   in
language. The meanings are liable to change. When there is an obvious connection
between different meanings, we call them shades of meaning, nuances of meaning,
even separate meaning, the latter being on the verge of becoming separate words.
When the process  of  breaking  away from  the basic  meaning has  gone so far  that
we scarcely feel  any connection between the meanings, we say that the word has
split into two different words which in this case become homonyms 
The   meanings   of   a   word   are   the   only   means   of   materializing   a   concept   in
language, though some concepts may be materialized not by means of the sign of
language   but   by   other   signs-by   gestures,   mimicry,  music,   painting,  sculpture   and
the other fine arts. 
It  is of  paramount importance in stylistics  to bear in mind that  concepts of
objective   reality   have   different   degrees   of   abstractness.   This   is   adequately
manifested   in   language.   Adjectives   are   more   abstract   in   meaning   than   nouns.
Adverbs   may   be   considered   more   abstract   than   adjectives   in   as   much   as   they
usually   characterize   an   abstract   nation,   action   or   state.   Conjunctions   and
prepositions  have a still higher degree of  abstractness  because  it is not  objects as
such that they indicate, but the correlation of the concepts involved. Therefore we
may consider conjunctions and prepositions and some auxiliary words as well to be
on the border line between lexical and grammatical meaning which suppresses the
lexical meaning. 
The problem  of abstractness  and especially the degree of  abstractness  is of
vital importance in stylistic in more than one respect. Stylistics deals not only with
the   aesthetic   and   emotional   impact   of   the   language.   It   also   studies   the   means   of
producing impressions  in our  mind. Impression  is the first and rudimentary stage
of concept. 5
  But the concept through a reverse process may build another kind of
impression. Impressions that are secondary to concepts, in other words which have
5  Jacobson R. “The Metaphoric and Metonymic Poles” Gavenhoge – 1956.  
. 
12  
  been   born   by   concepts,   are   called   imagery.   Imagery   is   mainly   produced   by   the
interplay of different meanings. Concrete objects are easily perceived by the mind.
When an abstract nation is by the force of the mind represented through a concrete
object,   an   image   is   the   result.   Imagery   may   be   built   on   the   interrelation   of   two
abstract   nations   or   two   concrete   objects   or   an   abstract   an   a   concrete   one.   Three
types   of   meaning   can   be   distinguished,   which   we   shall   call   logical,   emotive   and
nominal respectively. 
Logical meaning is precise naming of a feature of the idea, phenomenon or
object, the name by which we recognize the whole of the concept. This meaning is
also synonymously called referential meaning or direct meaning. We shall use the
terms logical and referential as being most adequate for our purpose. 
Referential   meanings   are   liable   to   change.   As   a   result   the   referential
meanings of one word may denote different concepts. It is therefore necessary to
distinguish between primary and secondary referential or logical meaning. 
All   the   meanings   fixed   by   authoritative   English   and   American   dictionaries
comprise what is called the semantic structure of the word. The meanings that are
to be found in speech or writing and which are accidental should not be regarded
as   components   of   the   semantic   structure   of   the   word.   They   may   be   transitory,
inasmuch   as   they   depend   on   the   context.   They   are   generally   called   contextual
meanings. 
Every   word   possesses   an   enormous   potentiality   for   generating   new
meanings. This power is often underestimated by scholars who regard a word as a
unit   complete   in   itself   and   acknowledge   a   new   –born   meaning   only   when   it   has
firmly   asserted   itself   in   language   and   become   accepted   by   the   majority   of   the
language   community.   But   not   to   see   the   latent   possibilities   of   a   word   is   not   to
understand the true nature of this unit of language. The potentiality of words can
also be noted in regard to emotive meaning. 
Emotive meaning also materializes a concept in the word, but unlike logical
meaning,   emotive   meaning   has   reference   not   directly   to   things   or   phenomena   of
. 
13  
  objective   reality,   but   to   the   feelings   and   emotions   of   the   speaker   towards   these
things or to his emotions as such. Therefore the emotive meaning bears reference
to things, phenomena or ideas through a kind of evaluation of them. For example: 
I feel so darned lonely. (Graham Green, “The Quite American”) 
He classified him as a man of monstrous selfishness; he did not want to see
that knife descend, but he felt it for one great fleeting instant. The italicized words
have   no   logical   meaning,   only   emotive   meaning.   Their   function   is   to   reveal   the
subjective, evaluating attitude of the writer to the things or events spoken of. Men
–   of   –   letters   themselves   are   well   aware   that   words   may   reveal   a   subjective
evaluation   and   sometimes   use   it   for   definite   stylistic   effects,   thus   calling   the
attention   of   the   reader   to   the   meaning   of   such   words.   Thus,   for   example,   in   the
following passage from “The Man of Property” by Galsworthy: 
“She   was   not   a   flirt,   not   even   a   coquette   –   words   dear   to   the   heart   of   his
generation, which loved to define things by a good, broad inadequate word but she
was dangerous.” 
Here the words “flirt” and “coquette” retain some of their logical meaning.
They mean a person who endeavours to attract the opposite sex, who toys with her
admirers.   But   both   words   have   acquired   an   additional   significance,   wiz   a
derogatory shade of meaning. This shade may grow into an independent meaning
and in this case will be fixed in dictionaries as having a special emotive meaning,
as  for   example,  have  the  words   fabulous,   terrifying,  stunning,   spectacular,  smart,
top and the like. 
Emotive meaning of words plays an important role in stylistics. Therefore it
should   never   be   underrated.   A   very   keen   eye   or   ear   will   always   distinguish
elements   of   emotive   meaning.   Emotional   colouring   may   be   regarded   as   a
rudimentary stage of emotive meaning, which is generally fixed as an independent
meaning in good dictionaries. Anything recognizable as having a strong impact on
our   senses   may   be   considered   as   having   emotive   meaning,   either   dictionary   or
contextual. 
. 
14  
  And   finally   we   come   to   nominal   meaning.   There   are   words   which,   while
expressing concepts, indicate a particular object out of a class. In other words these
units   of   the   language   serve   the   purpose   of   singling   out   one   definite   and   singular
object   out   of   a   whole   class   of   similar   objects.   These   words   are   classified   in
grammars   as   proper   nouns.   The   nature   of   these   words   can   be   understood   if   we
have a clear idea of the difference between the two main aspects of a word: 
“nomination” and “signification”. These aspects are also called “reference” and 
“signification”  or   “denotation”  and  “connotation”.   The  difference   can  roughly  be
illustrated by the following example. 
Let   us   take   the   word   table.   The   first   thing   that   appears   in   our   mind   is   the
general   notion   deprived   of   any   concrete   features   or   properties.   This   is   the
signification.   But   by   the   word   table   we   may   also   denote   a   definite   table.   In   this
case we use a definite article and the meaning becomes nominating. But we may
also   fix   a   definite   name   to   the   object   which   wants   to   be   recognized   as   a   unique
object   because   of   its   peculiar   properties.   In   this   way  proper   names   appear.  Their
function   is   not   to   single   out   one   of   the   objects   of   the   class   for   one   particular
occasion, as in the case with the use of the definite article, but to make it the bearer
of   the   properties   which   our   mind   has   attached   to   it.   Thus   nominal   meaning   is   a
derivative logical meaning. To distinguish nominal meaning from logical meaning
the   former   is   designated   by   a   capital   letter.   Such   words   as   Smith,   Longfellow,
Everest, Black Sea, Thames, Byron are said to have nominal meaning. The logical
meaning from which they originate may in the course of time be forgotten and not
easily   traced   back.   Most   proper   names   have   nominal   meanings   which   may   be
regarded   as   homonyms   of   common   nouns   with   their   logical   or   emotional
meanings, as Hope, Browning, Taylor, Scotland, Black, Chester, Chandler. Hence
logical   meanings   which   nominate   an   object,   at   the   same   time   signify   the   whole
class   of   the   latter   function   because   they   do   not   represent   a   class.   It   must   be
remembered   however   that   the   nominal   meaning   will   always   be   secondary   to   the
logical  meaning.  The process   of   development  of   meaning may  go still   further. A
. 
15  
  nominal meaning assume a logical meaning due to certain external circumstances.
The  result   is that   a  logical  meaning  takes  its  origin  in a  nominal  meaning.  Some
feature of a person which has made him or her noticeable and which is recognized
by   the   community   is   made   the   basis   for   the   new   logical   meaning.   The   nominal
meanings   of   these   words   have   now   faded   away   and   we   perceive   only   one,   the
logical   meaning.   But   sometimes   the   process   of   attaching   nominal   meaning   to   a
word with a logical meaning takes place, as it were, before our eyes. This is done
for purely stylistic purposes and is regarded as a special stylistic device.  
Out   of   this   classification   we   are   going   to   study   Interaction   of   Logical   and
Emotive meanings. 
The emotive meaning or emotional colouring (contextual emotive meaning)
of a word, as has already been pointed out elsewhere, plays a considerable role in
stylistics. This is mainly due to the fact that no utterance can be understood clearly
without its being evaluated from the point of view of the author’s attitude towards
the things described. In fact the term neutral came to be used in order to distinguish
the   unemotional   communication   from   the   emotional   or   otherwise   distinguishable
non   –   neutral   forms   of   communication.   Both   words   and   constructions   of   an
emotional character have a stylistic significance only when they are set against the
non – emotional. Thus, for instance,  interjections, which are erroneously referred
to   as   parts   of   speech   are,   in   fact,   signals   of   emotional   tension.   They   must   be
regarded as expressive means of the language and as such may be effectively used
as stylistic devices in the proper context. 
From the strongest  means of displaying the writer’s or speaker’s emotional
attitude to his communication, we now pass to a weaker but still forceful means –
the epithet. 
The   epithet   is   subtle   and   delicate   in   character.   It   is   not   so   direct   as   the
interjection.   Some   people   even   consider   that   it   can   create   an   atmosphere   of
objective   evaluation,   whereas   it   actually   conveys   the   subjective   attitude   of   the
writer, showing that he is partial in one way or another. 
. 
16  
  The epithet is a stylistic device based on the interplay of emotive and logical
meaning   in   an   attributive   word,   phrase   or   even   sentence,   used   to   characterize   an
object and pointing out to the reader and frequently imposing on him, some of the
properties or features of the object with the aim of giving an individual perception
and evaluation of these features. 
The   epithet   is   markedly   subjective   and   evaluative.   The   logical   attribute   is
purely   objective,   non-evaluating.   It   is   descriptive   and   indicates   an   inherent   or
prominent feature of the thing or phenomenon in question. 
Thus   in”   green   meadows,   white   show,   round   table,   blue   skies,   pale
complexion,   lofty   mountains”   and   the   like,   the   adjectives   are   more   logical
attributes than epithets. They indicate those qualities of the objects which may be
regarded as generally recognized. But in wild wind, loud ocean, remorseless dash
of   billows,   formidable   waves,   heartburning   smile,   the   adjectives   do   not   point   to
inherent   qualities   of   the   objects   described.   They   are   subjectively   evaluative.   The
epithet   makes   a   strong   impact   on   the   reader,   so   much   so,   that   the   reader
unwittingly begins to see and evaluate things as the writer wants him to. Indeed, in
such word combinations as destructive charms, glorious sight, encouraging smile,
the   interrelation   between   logical   and   emotive   meanings   may   be   said   to   manifest
itself in different degrees. The word destructive has retained its logical meaning to
a   considerable   extent,   but   it   the   same   time   an   experienced   reader   cannot   help
perceiving the emotive meaning of the word which in this combination will signify
conquering,   irresistible,   dangerous.   The   logical   meaning   of   the   word   glorious   in
combination with the word sight has almost entirely faded out. Glorious is already
fixed in dictionaries as a word having an emotive meaning alongside its primary,
logical   meaning.   As   to   the   word   encouraging{in   the   combination   encouraging
smile}it is half epithet and half logical attribute. In fact, it is sometimes difficult to
draw   a   clear   line   of   demarcation   between   epithet   and   logical   attribute.   In   some
passages   the   logical   attribute   becomes   so   strongly   enveloped   in   the   emotional
aspect of the utterance that it begins to radiate emotiveness, though by nature it is
. 
17  
  logically descriptive. Take for example, the adjectives green, white, blue, lofty{but
somehow not round} in the combinations given above. In a suitable context  they
may all have a definite emotional impact on the reader. This is probably explained
by the fact that the quality most characteristic of the given object is attached to it,
thus strengthening the quality. 
Epithets   may   be   classified   from   different   standpoints:   semantic   and
structural. Semantically, epithets may be divided into two groups: those associated
with the noun following and those unassociated with it. 
Associated  epithets  are those which point  to a feature which is  essential  to
the   objects   they   describe:   the   idea   expressed   in   the   epithet   is   to   a   certain   extent
inherent in the concept of the object. The associated epithet immediately refers the
mind   to   the   concept   in   question   due   to   some   actual   quality   of   the   object   it   is
attached   to,   for   instance   «dark   forest»,   «careful   attention»,   «indefatigable
assiduity»,   «dreary   midnight»,   etc.   Unassociated   epithets   are   attributes   used   to
characterize the object by adding a feature not inherent in it, i. e. a. feature which
may be so unexpected as to strike the reader by its novelty, as for instance, «heart –
burning   smile”,   «bootless   cries”,   «sullen   earth”,   «voiceless   sands”,   etc.   The
adjectives   here   do   not   indicate   any   property   inherent   in   the   objects   in   question.
They   impose,   as   it   were,   a   property   on   them   which   is   fitting   only   in   the   given
circumstances. It may seem strange, unusual, or even accidental. 
The   process   of   strengthening   the   connection   between   the   epithet   and   the
noun may sometimes go so far as to build a specific unit which does not  lose its
poetic word. Such epithets are called fixed and are mostly used in ballads and folk
songs. Here are some examples of fixed epithets: «true love “, «dark forest”, «good
ship” another lexical stylistic device which belongs to this group is Oxymoron. As
Oxymoron is the main theme under our investigation we are going to search it in
the next paragraph. 
I.3. Theoretical opinions about Oxymoron 
Oxymoron is a lexical stylistic device which is based on interaction  
. 
18  
  of   logical   and   emotive   meanings.   Oxymoron   –   trope,   two   contrasting   words
combined   in   a   word   combination.   In   English   poetry   and   prose   Oxymoron   is
frequently met. As E. Spenser wrote: And painful pleasure turns to pleasing pain,
And our contemporary poet wrote in one of his poems: 
With the forming of a verse 
Make a vineyard of the curse, 
Sing of human un success In
a rapture of distress. 
Oxymoron is widely used in character of logical functions. As English poet
and critic Spenser observing E. Hemingay’s work, contrasting the hero’s calls him
«self-consciously itself –conscious» 
The   violation   of   lexical   combination   in   Oxymoron   is   not   called   semantic
correspondence,   but   contrast   as   the   pairs:   faith-unfaithful,   falsely-true,
rapturedistress   the   words   are   lexically   opposed   in   word   combination.   They   have
general seems, but the seems are contrasted to each other. Both words «rapture and
distress   express   strong   sensation   but   in   the   first   example   –   high   emotion   of
pleasure and in the second-sorrow. 
The   combination   of   «a   plateful   of   mortal   sins”   semantically   not
corresponding,   where   as   the   first   component   relates   to   food   and   the   second   –   to
abstract religious sphere. 
In   colloquial   style   Oxymoron’s   «terrible   smart,   awfully   beautiful,   etc.
semantic   correspondence   may   be   omitted,   because   the   first   component   loses   its
denotative   meaning.   The   violation   of   lexical   combination   can   be   met   in   the
following   examples:   worst   friend,   best   enemy,   logically   if   a   person   has   a   best
friend   why   doesn’t   he   have   a   worst   one?   Only   the   combination   worst   friend   is
accepted half marked as Oxymoron. 
Kuznets points out that 6
: 
«Oxymoron is a stylistic device with which the sign is described as (quality, 
6  М.Д.Кузнец. “Стилистика английского языка”.Ленинград, 1960. стр. 34-35 
. 
19  
  action or state) only they are opposed to a natural form. They can have structurally,
grammatically   correct   form,   but   semantically   components   in   combinations   are
opposed to each other. E. g. 
His honor rooted in dishonor 
Stood 
And faith unfaithful kept him Falsely
true. 
Oxymoron is frequently use in 
Cases when the utterance needs 
High emotion. When Shakespeare wanted 
To   express   his   opinions   about   love   philosophically   he   used   paradoxical
Oxymorons: 
O brawling love! O loving hate! 
O any thing! Of nothing first 
Create 
O heavy lightness! Serious vanity! 
Miss – sh o pe n chaos of well- Seeming
forms! 
The difference of Oxymoron from antithesis is that Oxymoron is opposed 
words in word combination, but antithesis is the opposition of two ideas in one 
context. 
 In that sweet mood when 
Pleasant thoughts 
Bring sad thoughts to the mind. 
If the poet has said: my thought was both pleasant and sad – it would be 
Oxymoron, as in Julietta’s words by Shakespeare: 
A damned saint, an honorable villain, beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical. 
. 
20  
    Also   examples:   Are   there   many   women   really   like   this,   or   is   it   that   their
desperate efforts to look their horrid best make many gentle and charming elderly
women falsely accuse themselves? 
An oxymoron (from Greek, "Sharply dull") is a figure of speech consisting
in the use of an epithet or attributive phrase in contradiction to the noun it defines. 
For example: 
his humble ambition, proud humility his jarring concord his discord dulcet. 
Oxymoron joins two antonymous words into one syntagm, most frequently
attributive   ("adoring   hatred")   or   adverbial   ("shouted   silently"),   less   frequently   of
other   patterns   ("doomed   to   liberty"),   etc. 7
  trite   oxymorons   ("pretty   lousily",
"awfully nice" and others) have lost their semantic discrepancy and are used in oral
speech and fiction dialogue as indicators of roused emotions.The stylistic effect is
based on the fact that the denotational meaning of the attribute is not entirely lost.
If it had been lost the word combination would resemble those attributes with only
emotional meaning such as: It's awfully nice of you, I'm terribly glad. 
Oxymoron is a combination of two words in which the meanings of the two
clash, being opposite in sense, for example: 
"low skyscraper", "sweet sorrow", "nice beautiful", "a deafening silence". 
If   the   primary   meaning   of   the   qualifying   word   changes   or   weakens,   the
stylistic   effect   of   oxymoron   is   lost.   This   is   the   case   with   what   were   once
oxymoronic combinations, as for example: "awfully nice", "awfully glad", "terribly
sorry"   and  the  like,  where  the  words  awfully  and  terribly  have  lost   their  primary
logical meaning and are now used with emotive meaning, only as intensifiers. The
essence   of   oxymoron   consists   in   the   capacity   of   the   primary   meaning   of   the
adjective   or   adverb   to   resist   for   some   time   the   overwhelming   power   of   semantic
change   which   words   undergo   in   combination.   The   forcible   combination   of
noncombinative words seems to develop what may be called a kind of centrifugal
7  Kuharenko V.A “Lectures Мосткова С. “Английская литеротуроведческая терминология.” Ленинград , 1967 
on stylistics” M.1987 
. 
21  
  force   which   keeps   them   apart,   in   contrast   to   ordinary   word   combinations   where
centripetal force is in action. 
We have already pointed out that there are different ratios of emotive-logical
relations in epithets. In some of them  the logical  meaning is hardly perceived, in
others   the   two   meanings   co-exist.   In   oxymoron   the   logical   meaning   holds   fast
because   there   is   no   true   word   combination,   only   the   juxtaposition   of   two
noncombinative words. 
But  still  we may notice a peculiar change in the meaning of  the qualifying
word.   It   assumes   a   new   life   in   oxymoron,   definitely   indicative   of   the   assessing
tendency in the writer's mind. 
Let   us   take   the   following   example   from   O.Henry's   story   "The   Duel"   in
which one of the heroes thus describes his attitude towards New York. 
"I   despise   its   very   vastness   and   power.   It   has   the   poorest   millionaires,   the
littlest   great   men,   the   haughtiest   beggars,   the   plainest   beauties,   the   lowest
skyscrapers, the dull fulest pleasures of any town I ever saw." 
Even the superlative degree of the adjectives fails to extinguish the primary
meaning of the adjectives: poor, little, haughty, etc. But by some inner low of word
combinations they also show the attitude of the speaker, reinforced, of course, by
the preceding  sentence:  "I  despise  its very vastness  and power." It  will  not  come
amiss   to   express   this   language   phenomen   in   terms   of   the   theory   of   information,
which   states   that   though   the   general   tendency   of   entropy   (the   measure   of   the
nonorganized, also the measure of probability) is to enlarge, the encoding tendency
in   the   language,   which   strives   for   an   organized   system   of   language   symbols
reduces  entropy.  Perhaps  this   is  due  to  the  organizing  spirit   of  the  language,   etc.
The striving after a system (which in its very essence is an organized whole) that
oxymoronic groups, if repeated frequently, lose their stylistic quality. 
   
. 
22  
  CHAPTER III .  The investigation of Oxymoron in the English and 
Uzbek languages 
II.1Structural models of Oxymoron 
Oxymoron as a rule has one structural model: adjective + noun. It is in this
structural model that the resistance of the two component parts to fusion into one
unit manifests itself most strongly. In the adverb + adjective model the change of
meaning in the first element, the adverb, is more rapid, resistance  to the unifying
process not being so strong. Sometimes the tendency to use Oxymoron is the mark
of   certain   literary   trends   and   tastes.   There   are   poets   in   search   of   new   shades   of
meaning   in   existing   words,   who   make   a   point   of   joining   together   words   of
contradictory   meaning.   "Two   ordinary   words   may   become   almost   new,"   writes
V.V.Vinogradov,   "if   they   are   joined   for   the   first   time   or   used   in   an   unexpected
context."   8
  thus   "peopled   desert";   "populous   solitude";   "proud   humility"   (Byron)
are Oxymoronic. 
Sometimes,   however,   the   tendency   to   combine   the   uncombinative   is
revealed   in   structurally   different   forms,   not   in   adjective   -   noun   models.
Implications   criticizes   his   own   sentence:   "I   suffered   then   from   the   fanaticism   of
knowledge," out that the acquiring of knowledge is not blind as fanaticism is. 
  Not   every   combination   of   words   which   we   have   called   non-combinative
should   be   regarded   as   oxymoron,   because   new   meanings   developed   in   new
combinations do not necessarily give rise to opposition. They are not infrequently
just obscure. Let us take for example the following lines from T. S. Eliot’s «The 
Love – song of Alfred Prufrock.” 
 «And time for all the works and 
 Days of hands 
 That lift and drop a question on 
 Your plate; 
 Time for you and time for me. 
8  http: /www.free-dictionary.com/oxymoron 
 
. 
23  
   And time yet for a hundred 
 Indecisions, 
 And for a hundred visions and 
 Revisions, 
 Before the taking of a toast and tea. 
Perhaps   some   readers   will   find   new   meanings   infused   into   these   common
words «hands that lift and drop a question on your plate,” but to express them in
linguistic terms is so far impossible and probably unnecessary. 
In internet source we have found some new information about oxymoron. 
Oxymorons are sometimes in advertently created by errors or sloppiness in
conversation;   common   examples   include   extremely   average,   virtual   reality,
constant variable and living dead. 
A   great   many   oxymorons   have   been   popularized   in   vernacular   speech.
Unlike literary oxymorons, many of these are not intended to construct a paradox;
they   are   simply   puns.   Examples   include   controlled   chaos,   open   secret,   organized
mess, alone in a crowd and accidentally on purpose. 
There   are   also   many   examples   where   terms   that   are   superficially
contradictory are juxtaposed in such a way that there is no contradiction. Examples
include   same   difference,   pretty   ugly   (in   which   context   pretty   means   rather,   not
attractive) and hot ice (hot and ice mean «stolen» and «diamonds” respectively, in
criminal   argot).   Whether   or   not   these   may   legitimately   be   called   oxymorons   is
debatable. 
Often a writer will use an oxymoron in order to deliberately call attention to
a contradiction. For example, Wilfred Owen, in his poem «The send-off” refers to
soldiers leaving for the front line, who «lined the train with faces grimly guy.” In
this  case  the  oxymoron  grimly  guy  highlights  the  contradiction  between   how  the
soldiers feel and how they act: though putting on a brave face and acting cheerful,
they actually feel grim. 
Some paradoxical oxymorons that become clichés: 
. 
24  
  Jumbo   Shrimp,   Deafening   Silence,   Sweet   Sorrow,   Forward   Retreat,   Silent
Scream,   Quiet   Riot,   Civil   War,   Serious   Joke,   Clean   Coal,   Corporate   Policy,
Friendly Fire, Resistance movement, Peaceful war. 
Although a true oxymoron is «something that is surprisingly true, a paradox
“,   modern   usage   has   brought   a   common   misunderstanding   as   being   near
synonymous  with  a contradiction.  The  introduction  of   this  usage,  the opposite  of
its true meaning, has been credited to William F. Buckley. 
Sometimes a pair of terms is claimed to be an oxymoron by those who hold
the   opinion   that   the   two   are   mutually   exclusive.   That   is,   although   there   is   no
inherent   contradiction   between   the   terms,   the   speaker   expresses   the   opinion   that
the two terms imply properties or characteristics that cannot occur together. 
Such claims may be made purely for humorous effect; many examples, such
as   military   intelligence,   were   popularized   by   comedian   George   Carlin.   Another
example is the term civil war, which is not an oxymoron, but can be claimed to be
so   for   humorous   effect,   if   civil   is   construed   as   meaning   «polite”   rather   than
«between citizens of the same state. 
Alternatively,   such   claims   may   reflect   a   genuinely   held   opinion   or
ideological position. Well – known examples include claims made against 
“government   worker”,   “honest   broker”,   “educational   television”   and   “gay
marriage”. 
Richard Lederer assembled a taxonomy of oxymorons in an article in Word
Ways in 1990, running from single – word oxymorons such as “pianoforte” 
(literally, “soft – loud”) through “doublespeak oxymora” (deliberately intended to
confuce) and “opinion oxymora” (editorial opinions designed to provoke a laugh).
In   general,   oxymorons   can   be   divided   into   expression   that   were   deliberately
crafted to be contradictory, such as the Tennyson quote above, and those phrases
that   inadvertently   or   incidentally   contain   a   contradiction   (often   as   a   result   of   a
punning use of one or both words). 
Honest lawyer, Act naturally, 
. 
25  
  Found missing, Good grief, 
Almost exactly, legally drunk, 
Living dead, Small crowd, Passive
aggression, taped live, 
Peace force, religious tolerance. 
“It’s not easy to be both deliberate and hasty at the same time unless you are
consciously   embracing  an  oxymoron  –  from   the  Greek   word  meaning   “pointedly
foolish”   and   it   is   a   jarring   juxtaposition   of   contradictory   words   like   “cruel
kindness” and “thunderous silence”. From William Safire.  9
 
“A log palace is an architectural as well as a verbal oxymoron; so is a short
skyscraper, or an urban villa”. 
So, oxymoron can  be  in most   cases   in attributive word combination  which
can be confused with epithet, but the words in epithet are logically opposed to each
other in combination, whether they are antonym or not. In some words figurative
meaning can also be opposed. 10
Oxymoron has one main structural model: adjective
+ noun. It is in this structural model that the resistance of the two component parts
to fusion into one unit manifests itself most strongly.   Below we are going to give
some examples: 
Adjective + noun 
1. A fine mess 
2. A just war 
3. A little pregnant 
4. Academic sorority 
5. Accurate horoscope 
6. Active retirement 
7. Extinct Life 
8. Plastic glasses 
 
. 
26  
  9. Political science 
10. Authentic replica 
11. American culture 
12. Amateur expert 
13. Alltogether separate 
14. Advanced beginner 
15. Adult children 
16. Advanced Basic 
17. Acute apathy 
18. Accurate stereotype 
In the adverb – adjective model change of meaning in the first element, the
adverb is more rapid, resistance to the unifying process not 
being so strong. 
1. Absolutely unsure 
2. Legally drunk 
3. Awfully good 
4. Awfully pretty 
5. Almost pregnant 
6. Almost Ready 
7. Almost safe 
8. Almost surprised 
9. All alone 
10. Astronomically small 
Another model of oxymoron in the English is verb+adverb: 
1. To cry silently 
2. To live deadly 
3. Agree to disagree 
 From analysis we see that verb + adverb construction is used
less than other construction. 
. 
27  
  In the next lines we shall see them in the examples from English
and American literature. 
There are some examples of oxymoron. 
1. “Come to me in the silence of the night, Come in the speaking silence
of a dream” (C.G.Rosetti) 
Adjective + noun 
2. “Winterbournes   father,   whom   I   knew   slightly,   was   an   inadequate
sentimentalist.   Mild,   with   an   affectation   of   gentility,   in   competent,   selfishly
unselfish… 
Adverb + adjective (Aldington) 
3,4. It  was   with  almost   cruel  joy;   suddenly  she  felt   the need  to  speak.  The
wordy   silence   troubled   her,   it   was   a   relief   to   be   on   board   and   no   longer   alone
together. 
Adjective + noun (D.Garnet) 
5. It   was   an   unanswerable   reply   and   silence   prevailed   again.
(Defoe) 
6. Her lips…were…lived scarlet.  (S.Maugham) 
Adjective + adjective 
7. A   very   likeable   young   man,   Bill   Eversleigh.   Age   at   a   guess,
twenty –  five,  big and  rather  ungainly  in  his  movements,  a  pleasantly  ugly
face, a splendid set of white teeth and a pair of honest blue eyes.  (A.Christie)
8. “Huck   Finn   and   Holden   Caulfield   are   Good   Bad   boys   of
American 
literature. (H.Vallins) 
Adjective + adjective _ noun 
9. …a neon sign which reads “Welcome to Reno, the biggest little
town in the world.  (A.Miller) 
Adjective + adjective + noun 
. 
28  
  10. “Tastes   like   rotten   apples,”   said   Adam.   “Yes,   but   remember,
Jam 
Hamilton said like good ratten apples”.  (J.Stenbeck) 
Adjective + adjective + noun 
11. The   silence   as   the   two   men   stared   at   one   another   was   louder
than thunder. 
(J.Updike) 
Contextual oxymoron 
12. I got down off that stool and walked to the door in a silence that
was as loud as a ton of coal going down a chute.  (R.Ch) 
13. They looked courteous curses at me 
Adjective + noun 
14. “It was you who made me a liar,” she cried silently.” 
Verb + adverb 
15. He   …   caught   a   ride   home   to   the   crowded   loneliness   of   the
barracks.  Adjective + noun 
16. …he   was   certain   the   whites   could   easily   detect   his   adoring
hatred of them.  (R.Wright) 
Adjective + noun 
17. From   the   bedroom   beside   the   sleeping-porch,   his   wife’s
detestably cheerful “Time to get up, Georgie boy,” (S.L) 
18. The little girl who had done this was eleven – beautifully ugly
as little girls are apt  to be who are destined after  a few to be inexpressibly
lovely…  (Sc.Fitzgerald) 
Adverb + adjective 
19. The boy was short and squat with the broad ugly pleasant face
of a Temne.  (Gr.Greeme) 
20. Soapy   walked   eastward   through   a   street   damaged   by
improvements … 
He seemed doomed to liberty!  (O.Henry) 
. 
29  
  Adjective + prepositional noun 
21. I’ve made up my mind. If you are wrong, you are wrong in the
right way. 9
 
Oxymoron in phrase 
II.2. Oxymoron and its usage in English literature  
Oxymoron is a logical stylistic device is widely used in literature. Below we
are going to analyse the usage of Oxymoron in English literature. The function of
Oxymoron in context is to express the emotionality and expressiveness towards the
utterance. 
1. “So   foul   and   fair   a   day   I   have   not   seen!”   William   Shakespeare,
Macbeth, Act I, Scene III. 
2. “O miserable abundance, 
O beggarly riches!” John Donne, 
“Devotions on Emergent Occasions” 
3. “I   do   here   make   humbly   bold   to   present   them   with   a   short
account of themselves…”  (J.Swift) 
4. “The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, 
With loads of learned lumber in his head…”  (Alexander Pope) 
5. A blind man looks back 
Into the future with the 
Ear –splitting whispers of 
Unconcealed ghosts 
Thundering silently 
4. Tempteth my better angel from my side, 
And would corrupt my saint to be a devil, Wooing
his purity with her foul pride. 
5. “A fine tragedy of low life all this was”. 
“Jennie Gerhardt” by T.Dreiser 
9  The examples were collected from our practical coursebook “ Seminars on Style” by Kuharenko 
. 
30  
  6. A wealthy peasant marches 
Weakly across a blazing glacier 
As the stars in the cloudy sky Glisten
grimly. 
A hateful saint drowns afloat 
Into the dismal heaven of peaceful war.  (Christopher) 
7. “He was now sufficiently composed to order a funeral of
modest magnificence…”  Samuel Johnson 
8. “O   anything   of   nothing   first   create   O   heavy   lightness,
serious vanity! 
Misshapen chaos if well – seeming forms, 
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!” 
 W.Shakespeare 
11. One fine day in the middle of the night, 
Two dead boys got up to fight, 
Back to back they faced each other, 
Drew their swords and shot each other, 
One was blind and the other couldn’t see, So
they chose a dummy for a referee. 
A blind man went to see fair play, 
A dumb man went to shout “hooray!” 
A paralysed donkey passing by, 
Kicked the blind man in the eye. 
 Nathan Alterman’s 
 “Summer Night”. 
12. It’s very tender, it’s sweet as hell, the way the women wear their prettiest
everything. (T.Capote) 
In popular usage, the term oxymoron is sometimes used more loosely, in the
sense   of   a   simple   contradiction   in   terms.   Often,   it   is   then   applied   to   expressions
. 
31  
  which,   unlike   real   oxymora   are   used   in   full   earnest   and   without   any   sense   of
paradox   by   many   speakers   in   everyday   language.   Calling   such   an   expression   an
oxymoron is sometimes done in order to disparage its use, by drawing attention to
a   perceived   inherent   contradiction   and   thus   claiming   it   to   be   nonsensical.   Often
this kind of argument is used in domains of political or ideological  dispute, or in
order to criticize a perceived nonsensical use of technical terms by lay people who
fail   to   understand   their   true   meanings.   Examples   of   expressions   that   are   used
without a sense of paradox by some but have been claimed to be “oxymorons” in
this sense by critics. 
“With all deliberate speed” 
“Military intelligence” anecdotal
evidence 
Sometimes,   the   labeling   of   an   otherwise   non   –   paradox   expression   as   a
perceived   oxymoron   is   made   on   the   basis   of   substituting   an   alternative,   non   –
intended   meaning   for   the   meaning   normally   intended   in   the   context   of   the
expression in question. For instance, in the expression Civil war, the term civil is
normally intended to mean “Between citizens of the same state”. In this sense, the
expression   is   neither   paradox   nor   self   –   contradictory.   However,   if   one   forcibly
construes   civil   in   the   sense   of   “non   –   military”   or   “reasonable   and   polite”,   the
expression may a perceived contradiction in terms (as per satirist with Columbus,
who said the American Civil war was fought politely). Such designation of alleged
oxymora are often made with a humorous purpose. 
A more subtle rhetorical manoeuvre in designating an expression XY as an
“oxymoron”, often used for either humorous or polemical purposes, is to pick out a
perceived or alleged property of objects of type Y and reconstrue that property as if
it were a defining criterition of Y and then demonstrate that it is contradicted by X.
For instance, if one were to claim that “honest Politician” was an oxymoron, this
would   imply   the   claim   that   Politicians,   by   definition,   are   dishonest.   Other
. 
32  
  expressions   which   have   been   designated   oxymora   in   such   a   fashion   include:
Microsoft Works, corporate ethics and military intelligence. 
Both   the   above   strategies   can,   unfortunately,   be   seen   combined   in   an
example like “military intelligence”. First, the term “intellectual power”; then it is
implied that militaristic people are, by definition, not intelligent. 
Cruel examples of Oxymorons 
Pretty ugly 
Punk music 
Civil servant 
Gourmet pizza, served by a fast waiter. 
Airline food. 
The   dictionary   definition   of   oxymoron   is:   A   rhetorical   figure   of   speech   in
which contradictory terms are paired, for example, alone together, current history
or   boneless   ribs.   However,   with   an   oxymoron   the   incongruous   word   pairing
conveys a truth or a dramatic result. 
It is possible to subdivide English oxymorons into three main categories: a)
Pure puns such as gourmet pizza. 
b) Accidents, like an original copy. 
c) Paradoxes, my favourite example is “serious joke”. 
d) An alternative zany definition for an oxymoron: One who forgets to 
breathe! 
The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek oxumoros, which means 
“obviously   foolish”,   a   latin   equivalent   would   be:   contradictio   in   terminis.
Incidentally,   the   related   word   sideroxylon   specifically   refers   to   a   mismatch
between the noun and its adjective, e.g. cold fire. 
Look at the giant midget settle on the jumbo shrimp.   10
Even the superlative
degree of the adjectives fails to extinguish the primary meaning of the adjectives:
poor,   little,   haughty   etc.   But   by   some   inner   law   of   word   combinations   they   also
10  http: ien.wikipedia.org/wiki/oxymoron 
. 
33  
  show the attitude of the speaker, rainforced, of course by the preceding sentence: I
despise   its   very   vastness   and   power”.It   will   not   come   amiss   to   express   this
language   phenomenon   in   terms   of   the   theory   of   information,   which   states   that
though   the   general   tendency   in   the   language,   which   starves   for   an   organized
system   of   language   symbols,   reduces   entropy.   Perhaps,   this   is   due   to   the
organizing  spirit  of  the  language,  i.e.  the  striving after  a  system   that  oxymoronic
groups, if repeated frequently, lose their stylistic quality and gradually fall into the
group   of   acknowledged   word   –   combinations   which   consist   of   an   intensifier   and
the concept intensified. 
II.3. The usage of Oxymoron in Uzbek Literature 
Oxymoron   is   widely   used   in   the   Uzbek   language   too.   In   most   cases
oxymoron is used in poetry more than in prose. Below we are going to analyse the
use   of   Oxymoron   in   some   examples.   Contemporary   Uzbek   poetess   Farida   Afruz
writes philosophical poems and the effectiveness of her creation is defined by the
use of stylistic devices and expressive means: 
1.   Сендан гўзал гул йўқ дунёда 
Сендан хушбўй, сендайин майин Отам
қабрин яшнатган янтоқ. 
Here oxymoron is used for the word “ янтоқ ”. We know “ янтоқ ” in Uzbek,
it is translated into English “weed”, it is a thorny plant which grows in deserts. 
In the dictionary “    Ўзбек        тилининг        изохли        луғати    ” it is described this way:     
Чўлларда   ўсадиган ,  дуккаклиларга   мансуб   тиканли   ўт .” 11
 
From  definition  we  see   that   a  thorny  plant  can’t  be  tender.  That’s   why  we
called it oxymoron: 
Гўзал   янтоқ ,  хушбўй   янтоқ ,  майин   янтоқ  
This is kept in English translation which has done by Valentina Lee: 
11   Ўзбек        тилининг        изохли        луғати    ”.     Москва    , “    Русский        язык    ”, 1981.     таи     II.     
14
 Farida Afruz. “ Тасбеҳ , Rosary”. Tashkent, 2007, p.24. 
. 
34  
  There is noting more beautiful in the world 
More fragrant, more tender than you 
Plant grown on my father’s gravewud 14
.  
In   this   example   the   expressiveness   and   emotionality   of   the   author   is
described with the help of Oxymoron. 
The   plant   “weed”   which   was   grown   on   father’s   grave   was   respectful   and
dear for the daughter. 
Another   example   is   from   our   poet   Erkin   Vokhidov’s   work   which   is   the
beloved person’s complimentary words to his beloved woman: 
2.  
2. Сенсиз   менга   ком   йўқдир,   Асал   ичсам,   захар
бўлгай, 
Сенинг бирлан, ширин сўзим 
Захар ютсам, шакар бўлгай.  12
 
 
 
Here situational Oxymoron is used: 
Асал   –   Захар   Sweet – Bitter   Захар   –   Шакар   Sweet –
Bitter 
3. In   the   following   example   oxymoron   gives   ironical
effect to the utterance. 
–  Гапингиз   ўроқдай   тўғри , –  деб   кулиб   қўйди   Жўра . 
 (“ Муштум ”) 
1.  
We know “ ўроқ ” is not a straight tool and the propriety and truthfulness of a
sentence is hesitated and used in ironical effect. 
In   Uzbek   Oxymoron   is   given   such   definition   “ ғайриодатий ,   эмоционал
таьсирчанлик   хусусиятига   эга   услубий   бўёқ ” 13
 
2. 
12  
.  E.Vokhidov. Samar Bo’lgay.//O’zbek tilining amaliy stilistikasi. Toshkent, “O’qituvchi” 1992, p.105 
13   Э . Қиличев  “ Ўзбек   тилининг   амалий   стилистикаси .”  Тошкент , “ Ўқитувчи ” 1992, p.105
.  The same book 
p.105    17
  Салим   Ашур . “ Дарз ” ю   Ташкент , “ Зарқалам ” 2006
2.  The same book. p.7  
. 
35  
  4. Бу   ўқиш   жуда   яхши   ўқиш   –   бепул   овқат   беради ,   бепул   ётоқхона
беради ,   бепул   стипендия   беради ,   –   деб   тушунтирдим .   (Н.Аминов.
р.105) 
In   this   example   Oxymoron   is   “ бепул   стипендия ”,   the   words   in   the
combination are opposed to each other. 
5. Новдадан узилган япроқдек йўлсиз,    На   белги,   на   чизиқ,   на  из,   на
асар. 
 У тутган манзилга қаламсиз, қўлсиз, 
   Ўзининг сувратин чизибди хатар 17
  p.8 
 In this example “ қўлсиз   суврат   чизмоқ ” is oxymoron, – to draw a portrait
or a picture without a hand 
6The whole lines in the following examples express oxymoron: 
  Секин шошиш, шошган асталик, 
 Нозик келиш, нафис кетиш, ор, 
 Хаста соғлиқ, соғлом хасталик, 
 Мен ва сендан бошқа кимда бор? 
6. In this example the poet Salim Ashur speaks about dead poet Shavkat 
Rakhmon and describes his death emotionally. 
2  
  Гўзал   тобут   –   унинг   тобути,   Чайқалади
ғам оҳангида. 
 Хаста суяк сабрдек собит, 
 Суяклари шеьрнинг рангида. 14
 
Having   analysed   all   the   tasks   put   to   qualification   paper   we   can   say   that
oxymoron   is   a   stylistic   device,   formed   on   the   base   of   logical   and   emotional
meanings.   The   difference   of   oxymoron   from   other   stylistic   devices   which   are
14   Салим   Ашур . “ Дарз ” ю   Ташкент , “ Зарқалам ” 2006
.  The same book. p.7  
. 
36  
  based   on   logical   and   emotional   meanings,   i.e.   from   epithet   and   hyperbole   is   that
words in the word combination are logically opposed to each other, but the definer
or attribute of the word combination loses its logical meaning and plays a role of
intensifier to the defining word. E.g: 
Speaking silence –  сўзлаётган   сукунат . 
Here the word “speaking” is to pronounce something by voice but “silence”
is   a   situation   of   muteness.   Maybe   this   silence   was   caused   by   some   influence   on
force   and   means   something.   To   give   effectiveness   and   emotionality   to   speech
logically opposed words are used and oxymoron appeared in speech as a stylistic
device. 
In epithet the words in word combination are logically connected with each
other: A young child. 
. 
37  
  Here “child” is a young boy in definition, but to give emotiveness we used
cludes   both   extra   linguistic   style   forming   factors   and   truly   linguistic   analysis   of
stylistic   devices   as   Epithet,   Hyperbole,   Oxymoron.   Out   of   linguistic   methods   of
research in the work there were used: traditional method of description of linguistic
means,   the   method   of   grouping,   the   elements   of   contextual,   componential   and
transformational analyses. 
The theoretical value of the work is that the qualification paper clarifies the
linguistic   nature   of   oxymoron   and   it   defines   the   role   of   stylistic   devices   in   the
formation of functional style, in realization of these pragmatic means, which gives
specifies of language in different texts. 
Irish Airman Foresees His Death  
I know that I shall meet my fate 
Somewhere among the clouds above; 
Those that I fight I do not hate 
Those that I guard I do not love; 
My country is Kiltartan Cross, 
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor, No
likely end could bring them loss Or 
leave them happier than before. 
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, 
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, 
A lonely impulse of delight 
Drove to this tumult in the clouds; 
I balanced all, brought all to mind, 
The years to come seemed waste of breath, 
A waste of breath the years behind 
In balance with this life, this death. 
Do not go gentle into that good night 
 
38  
  Do not go gentle into that good night, Old 
age should burn and rage at close of day; 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, 
Because their words had forked no lightning they Do 
not go gentle into that good night. 
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their 
frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, 
rage against the dying of the light. 
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, 
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do
not go gentle into that good night. 
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight 
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage,
rage against the dying of the light. 
And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse,
bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. 
Do not go gentle into that good night. 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 
 
The poem  based on rhyme and rhythm, its lines are of eight syllables.  The
poet   wrote   this   poem   for   Major   Robert   Gregory,   the   son   of   his   friend   Lady
Augusta Gregory. Major  Gregory, an  artist  and aviator, was killed in action over
Italy during World war while flying for England’s Royal flying Crops. The poem
has   deep   imeaning   where   the   poet   expresses   his   thoughts   about   Major   Robert
Gregory. 15
  There are several stylistic devices: 
1) meet fate   – metaphor, because fate is abstract noun and the verb “to
meet “ is used with concrete nouns.  Here the word “fate” is  personificated.  
15  www.wikipedia.com   
39  
  2) Also   the   fate   is   among   the   clouds   above   –   metaphor   by   which   the
author   stresses   that   his   fate   is   not   clear   or   close   to   him   and   he   is   looking   for   or
expecting someone, some event. 
3) Here,   the   third   and   fourth   lines   express   oxymoron   to   fight   against
which he didn’t hate and to guard somebody whom he didn’t love 
4) Some   authenticity   details   appear   in   the   next   lines   which   give   us
clearness of places and people: Kiltarten cross, Kiltarten. 
5) In the next lines we come across repetition and gradation 
No likely end could bring them loss Or
leave them happier than before. 
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, 
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, 
In this passage we are going to analyse the use and functions of expressive
means and stylistic devices in the poem Mukhammad Yusuf. The poem is titled 
“Muhabbat” and it is about 
Muhabbat 
Muhabbat, ey go’zal iztirob, 
Ey ko’hna dard, ey ko’hna tuyg’u 
Ko’kragimga qo’lingni tirab, 
Yuragimni to’kib qo’yding-ku. 
Go’zal iztirob–– it is contextually   oxymoron , because the meanings of two
clash, being opposite in sense. O, ota makonim, 
Onajon o’lkam 
O’zbekiston, jonim to’shay soyangga 
Senday mehribon yo’q, 
Seningdek ko’rkam, 
Rimni alishmasman bedapoyangga. 
 
40  
  CONCLUSION 
Every functional style of language is marked by a specific use of language
means,   thus   establishing   its   own   norms   which,   however,   are   subordinated   to   the
norm invariant and which do not violate, the general notion of the literary language
contributes greatly to establishing the system of norms of their period. 
The belles-lettres style is generic term for three subtypes in which the main
principles and the most general properties of the style are materialized. These three
subtypes are: 
1.   The   language   of   poetry,   simply   verse   2.
Emotive prose, or the language of fiction 
3.   The language of the drama. 
the subject matter, style, or the other broader literary characteristics: epic 
poetry,   narrative   poetry,   dramatic   poetry,   satirical
poetry, lyric poetry. 
Specific   poetic   forms   have   been   developed   by   many   cultures.   In   more
developed,   closed   or   “received”   poetic   forms,   the   rhyming   from   the   relatively
loose rules, that govern construction of an elegy to the highly formalized structure
of the ghazal or villanelle. 
We   know   the   category   expressionless   and   emotionality   as   a   stylistic
function. The expressive  means of  a language are those phonetic, morphological,
words building lexical, phrase logical and syntactical forms which exist language.
A system for the purpose of logical and emotional intensification of the utterance.
The   intensifying   forms   wrought   by   social   usage   and   resigned   out   in   grammars,
courses   in   phonetics   and   dictionaries   as   having   special   functions   in   making   the
utterances emphatic. 
So, the functions of emotionality find their reflexion in poetry with the help
of   Stylistic   device.As   we   told   in   the   main   part   there   following   types   of   stylistic
devices according to I.R.Galperin.They are:phonetic, lexical and syntactical. They
all serve to bring vividness and expressiveness to the poems. 
41  
  Having   analyzed   and   the   expression   of   the   category   of   expressiveness   and
emotionality   in   English   and   Uzbek   poetry   we   were   testified   that   all   language
means in poetry have emotional and in testifying functions. 
The most frequent used stylistic device in poetry’s epithet and repetition in
the English poetry. 
In Uzbek poetry inversion, exclamatory sentences, alliteration, phonetic and
lexical features are frequently used. 
The aim of our qualification paper is to reveal the features of expressiveness
and emotiveness in English and Uzbek poems. 
The   theoretical   importance   of   the   qualification   paper   is   that   the   theoretical
part   of   the   work   can   be   useful   for   elaborating   handbooks   and   course   books   on
practical lessons and lectures on Stylistics and Text interpretation 
The practical importance is that the qualification paper can be basic material
for writing reports and having seminars on the topic poetry also the analysis poems
can be example in the lessons of the text Interpretation. 
   
42  
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44

The investigation of oxymoron in the English and Uzbek languages

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  • O'xshash dokumentlar

  • Analysis of English and Uzbek poetry
  • Sohaga oid matnlar tarjimasidagi muammolar
  • Tarjimaning lingvistik va nolingvistik aspektlari
  • Ilmiy-texnikaviy tarjima
  • Tarjima nazaryasi va amaliyoti tarixi

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