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There exist certain general terms for division which are applied at various
levels of the system of rhetoric. Each of these could be considered synonymous
withe the Topic of Invention: Division
and have been used as methods of Amplification.
- merismus
The dividing of a whole into its parts.
- diaeresis (#1)
The logical division of a genus into its species.
- distributio (#2)
A synonym for diaeresis or merismus
Certain figures of division provide order within a speech (Compare Parts
of an Oration: Partitio,
Propositio):
- eutrepismus
Numbering and ordering the parts under consideration.
- enumeratio
Dividing a subject into its adjuncts, a cause into its effects, or an
antecedent into its consequents.
- taxis
To divide a subject up into its various components or attributes.
- distributio (#1)
Assigning roles among or specifying the duties of a list of people,
sometimes accompanied by a conclusion
- dialysis
To spell out alternatives.
- expeditio
After enumerating all possibilities by which something could have occurred,
the speaker eliminates all but one.
- dilemma
Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.
- prosapodosis
Providing a reason for each division of a statement.
Certain figures describe divisions within a word
- diaeresis (#2)
Dividing one syllable into two.
- tmesis
Interjecting a word or phrase between parts of a compound word or between
syllables of a word.
Certain figures describe syntactical or semantic divisions within a sentence,
such as the zeugma figures. All of the zeugma
figures depend upon a division in how one word is applied to or governs
other words in a sentence and by using division carry a sort of distributive
function:
- zeugma
One part of speech governs two or more other parts of a sentence.
- syllepsis
When a single word that governs or modifies two or more others must
be understood differently with respect to each of those words.
Other figures simply depend upon some internal sort of division to operate:
- synecdoche
A whole is represented by naming one of its parts (genus named for species),
or vice versa (species named for genus).
- hendiadys
Expressing a single idea by two nouns instead of a noun and its qualifier
- Figures of Summary
See Also
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