International journal
ISSN 2311-0759 (Online)
ISSN 2311-0740 (Print)


comical effect

The Litotes in the Speech Genre of a Life-talk

The article deals with the functioning of the litotes in the Russian life-talk. The author discusses the term “litotes”, adduces different points of view on this term are, and offers the conclusion that, firstly, the main feature of the litotes is the obvious diminishment of some property, action or force, and secondly, in everyday conversation the litotes is the ideal device opposed to the hyperbole. The article presents the classification of the litotes based the manner of its expression.