At thought figures, as well as the syntax pictures, sound figures and semantic figures, are one of the types of speech figures. These features of language, as everyone knows, allow us, speakers, greater expressiveness when we are going to communicate.
In the case of figures of thought, we have tools that work with the combination of ideas and that refer to the meaning effects of the message that the author wants to convey.
Today Brasil Escola has selected a figure of thought that is little studied, but has a lot to show us: the littor. This figure of thought is similar to another one often used by us in our daily lives: the euphemism.
Let's remember what euphemism is?
Figure of speech responsible for attenuating the meaning of words. This feature smoothes out speech expressions, that is, when we make use of this tool, we will replace unpleasant or unacceptable terms with more pleasant or acceptable terms.
Examples:
Our dear mother is no longer with us. (In this case, the expression "she is no longer with us" softens the actual statement: she is dead.)
That one over there is not very good at hygiene. (In this case, the intention is to soften what is in the mind: dirty, filthy, etc.)
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Characteristics of the littor
Remembering the concept of euphemism, let us now think about the litotes. This figure of thought, like the euphemism, works with the softening of our ideas. Let's see how this works?
They are not at all silly.
I was not at all happy with that attitude of yours.
She doesn't sing bad.
What can you see as common in all the sentences presented?
In all the sentences, we can notice that the affirmation of an idea occurs through the negation of the opposite. Got confused? Let's review the examples from another perspective:
They are not at all silly. → They are smart.
I was not at all happy with that attitude. → I was sad with that attitude.
She doesn't sing anything bad. → She sings well.
Did you see how thinking is toned down? The idea that the issuer wants to convey is suggested by the denial of its opposite.
With this in mind, the relationship between lithote and euphemism is clear and, in addition, we can make another comparison: litote is an antonym of hyperbole, since hyperbolic expressions work with exaggeration, not moderation of our ideas.
by Mariana Pacheco
Graduated in Letters
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PACHECO, Mariana do Carmo. "Figure of thought: lithot"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/figura-pensamento-litote.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.