4 ms·

When you write a whole essay like that it's more than a bit ridiculous, but the same idea on a smaller scale can work very well rhetorically. For example, take

by qsort 2y ago

When you write a whole essay like that it's more than a bit ridiculous, but the same idea on a smaller scale can work very well rhetorically. For example, take this section from Churchill's notorious speech: We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. every word except "surrender" has an Anglo-Saxon root.

spondylosaurus 2y ago
Have you read Farnsworth's Classical English Style? He talks about Saxon vs. Latinate word choice (and invokes Churchill frequently!), which makes me think you've either read it already or would enjoy it if you haven't yet :)
navane 2y ago
It's hilarious that the one french rooted word is surrender. Did he do that on purpose?
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
ttepasse 2y ago
Earlier in the speech Churchill used the same rhetorical device of in a positive sentence full of words with french/latin roots: A miracle of deliverance, achieved by valor, by perseverance, by perfect discipline, by faultless service, by resource, by skill, by unconquerable fidelity, is manifest to us all. https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches/ https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-fin... (That form of repetition seems to be called anaphora, I just learned.) It’s interesting that people often comment on the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic roots of that famous phrase – but nobody finds it weird to use Germanic words in a (defensive) war against Germany and eschewing French words in support of France in this war. The explanation seems to be the specific English context: there the connotation of Anglo-Saxon as the language of the people seems to override any germanic associations.

4 ms·

When you write a whole essay like that it's more than a bit ridiculous, but the same idea on a smaller scale can work very well rhetorically. For example, take

by qsort 2y ago

spondylosaurus 2y ago
Have you read Farnsworth's Classical English Style? He talks about Saxon vs. Latinate word choice (and invokes Churchill frequently!), which makes me think you've either read it already or would enjoy it if you haven't yet :)
navane 2y ago
It's hilarious that the one french rooted word is surrender. Did he do that on purpose?
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
ttepasse 2y ago
Earlier in the speech Churchill used the same rhetorical device of in a positive sentence full of words with french/latin roots: A miracle of deliverance, achieved by valor, by perseverance, by perfect discipline, by faultless service, by resource, by skill, by unconquerable fidelity, is manifest to us all. https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches/ https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-fin... (That form of repetition seems to be called anaphora, I just learned.) It’s interesting that people often comment on the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic roots of that famous phrase – but nobody finds it weird to use Germanic words in a (defensive) war against Germany and eschewing French words in support of France in this war. The explanation seems to be the specific English context: there the connotation of Anglo-Saxon as the language of the people seems to override any germanic associations.