Quick English question

[Sage]

When an author makes extensive use of alliteration and repetition, does that fall under "syntax"? Or can they be branched off into two separate literary tools/devices? The essay I have to analyze uses short, abrupt, fragmented sentences, which I know falls under syntax, but I'm not sure if alliteration and repetition would also be grouped into that category, or if they form their own category (like metaphor would... well, you could group that into "descriptive writing", but you can also use it as a stand-alone tool).

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I always thought that syntax was related to the way sentences were constructed, but in the way that the word-types were grouped. The relative position of subject, verb and object in the sentence is also syntactic.

I do not think that the word selections themselves could be considered to be syntactic. More, I would think that it were lexical. This would cover both the alliteration and the repetition.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines syntax as:
"noun
1 the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
2 a set of rules for or an analysis of this.
3 the structure of statements in a computer language. ".

I would question the use of "well-formed" in the first definition, since poor syntax creates poor sentences.

The OED defines "lexical" as:
"adjective
1 relating to the words or vocabulary of a language.
2 relating to a lexicon or dictionary"

HTH

 

[ShobThaBob]

The way he uses the alliteration and repitition to form his work...if repetitive enough, would certainly fall under syntax. However, depending on who you're analyzing it for, you should certainly consider mentioning both just so your professor or teacher recognizes the fact that YOU recognize the literary devices.

 

[Purple Platypus]

Syntax sounds good enough, but I would call it style. Especially if the author uses the same kind of writing in his other stories, I think it's the writing style. Personally, I think that syntax is usually applied to the order that the parts of the sentence are arranged. This CAN apply to the short sentence part, but I would put excessive alliteration and repetition into "writing style."

 

[Arwin]

Yes, alliteration and repetition are stylistic features, not syntactic features. Syntax has to do with the way a sentence is built, but nothing else. So not if words rhyme, are repeated, sound the same, alliterate, and so on. Cleft constructions, questions, if ... then ... clause constructions, that sort of thing is syntax.

 

[ShobThaBob]

Yes, alliteration and repetition are stylistic features, not syntactic features. Syntax has to do with the way a sentence is built, but nothing else. So not if words rhyme, are repeated, sound the same, alliterate, and so on. Cleft constructions, questions, if ... then ... clause constructions, that sort of thing is syntax.

But if the sentences were build around using alliteration and repitition, then it would be considered syntax

 

[Arwin]

But if the sentences were build around using alliteration and repitition, then it would be considered syntax

eh, no, not necessarily. But perhaps you mean the syntax could be adjusted to reinforce the alliteration, as in:

"I be altering sentences alliteration suiting"

 

[Sage]

Ah, that clears a lot up for me – thanks guys! (I'm pathetic when it comes to English... in fact, when I first saw the word "syntax", the very first thing that popped into my head was Dreamweaver's syntax-coloring. )

 

[Timmotheus]

Ah, that clears a lot up for me – thanks guys! (I'm pathetic when it comes to English... in fact, when I first saw the word "syntax", the very first thing that popped into my head was Dreamweaver's syntax-coloring. )

Sage, just read the explanation of what the teachers and AP graders want. Whether it's technically correct or not is not important, just use those lists.