Anthimeria

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Anthimeria

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Anthimeria is the use of one part of speech instead of another part.

Example

I am not inhelpful. ('in-' instead of 'un-'.

Go safe. ('safe' instead of 'safely').

Be silence. Be peaced. Find the nature of the innocent fleeced.

Discussion

Sometimes anthimeria is used by accident, when the speaker does not have full grasp of the language. Sometimes also it is a colloquialism that is used within particular cultural contexts ('teen-speak' often uses this form).

Substitution or language modification of any kind may attract attention, which may be desirable. The simple modification of anthimeria may also be a deliberate regression to child-like language that says 'I am not a threat to you.'

Anthimeria is popular in poetry, where substitution evokes emotion of mild confusion yet the intended meaning is not too difficult to discern.

Anthimeria is also called 'antimeria'.

Classification: Substitution.