An investigation into linguistic Features of enumeration in english and vietnamese

Abstract

In order to make the writings more impressive and create strong emotional feelings on readers, the writers often employ the rhetorical device enumeration to express various aspects of reality, thoughts or emotion. Using a descriptive method to classify, describe and analyze enumerations in English and Vietnamese in terms of syntax and pragmatics, the study provides a systematic view on enumeration in both languages. In addition, the distribution of this rhetorical device has been clearly presented based on a survey of 500 samples of enumeration in English and another 500 in Vietnamese, which are mainly taken from novels, short stories and literary works by famous writers in both languages. Accordingly, some predicted problems in the language learning and teaching as well as practical and feasible implications are put forward in the hope they can benefit not only English teachers and learners but also translators and those who are interested in linguistics and literature