Difference between revisions of "Aposiopesis"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
"If you weren't family...!" | "If you weren't family...!" | ||
| + | |||
"Why, I oughtta...!" | "Why, I oughtta...!" | ||
| + | |||
"One of these days...!" | "One of these days...!" | ||
| + | |||
"Or else...!" | "Or else...!" | ||
[[Category:Linguistics]] | [[Category:Linguistics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:22, August 28, 2013
Aposiopesis is a rhetorical device which involves a breaking-off of speech, frequently because of rising emotion. The speaker leaves the conclusion of the statement to the imagination of the audience. Aposiopesis is typically denoted with an ellipsis or a dash.
Examples of Aposiopesis
"If you weren't family...!"
"Why, I oughtta...!"
"One of these days...!"
"Or else...!"