Metonymy and Hyperbole as Exaggeration Elements in Selected War Speeches

Abstract

This study deals with the rhetorical device, metonymy and Hyperbole, that are specially used in the political or War speeches as elements of exaggeration usually exploited by politicians to achieve certain interests. The researcher tries to show that politicians in general almost try to persuade their audience that what they (the politicians) say is the whole truth forgetting that the information they introduce may be imposed on their audience in a rude impolite way.

The study begins with introducing the elements of meaning and pragmatics. Grice conversational maxims are also mentioned and how the violation and breaking of each would result in showing certain figures of speech as hyperbole. Also, it is shown that the exaggerated style used by politicians would certainly affect the degree of the expected politeness shown to audience.

Two political speeches are chosen to be analyzed.