“REFRAMING EXAGGERATION: HYPERBOLE AS A COGNITIVE, RHETORICAL, AND COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGY IN ENGLISH DISCOURSE”
Keywords:
hyperbole, rhetorical device, exaggeration, figurative language, pragmatics, discourse, English linguistics, communicationAbstract
This article examines hyperbole as a significant rhetorical and stylistic phenomenon in English discourse. The study traces its origins in classical rhetoric, explores its development in English literary traditions, and analyzes its communicative functions in contemporary language use. Particular attention is given to the semantic, pragmatic, cognitive, and cultural dimensions of hyperbole, as well as its role in emotional expression, persuasion, humor, and meaning construction. The findings demonstrate that hyperbole is not merely an ornamental device but a fundamental mechanism through which speakers structure experience, influence perception, and negotiate meaning in both literary and everyday communication.
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