Lexical Repeat

A repetition is a whole series of speech figures that are based on the repeated use of some units of the language (for example, words, syntactic constructions, morphemes or sounds) within one sentence or a semantic segment of the text. They are used to make the statement more expressive.

Depending on the criteria underlying the division, several types of repetitions are distinguished. For example, one can take into account the type of units that occur several times. Then the sound, morphemic, syntactic and lexical repetition is singled out.

The next criterion is the location of those units that occur several times. Depending on this, the repetitions are:

• Remote (when other elements of the text are between the same words, morphemes, etc.);
• Contact (when the units that repeat go one after another).

It is also important how accurately the original word, sound or structure is reproduced. Depending on this, the repetitions are partial and complete.

Their classification is also influenced by the syntactic position in a particular segment of speech (strophe, paragraph, sentence, line) of identical units that occur many times. So in the case of ordered repeats, it is the same for all. In the case of disordered ones, the syntactic position does not unite these units.

In the literary text , it is the lexical repetition that is most often used. It is the intentional repeated use of units of speech to give the text expressiveness or focus attention of the reader, the listener at some particular moment. The closer their location to each other, the more likely that the addressee will notice them.

The very term "lexical repetition" already makes it clear that in this case the same units that occur many times in a row are words. Use it only when the speaker wishes only to note in general the use of the same lexemes. When it comes to building a repetition, its organization, then use terms that give a more accurate description. This, for example, is a junction, an epiphary, a ring, an anaphora, and many others.

And in the artistic text and in colloquial speech, lexical repetition plays a huge role and performs several functions.

1. The transfer of monotony of actions, their monotony.
2. Making the statement clear, so that the presentation ceases to be vague, incomprehensible.
3. Lexical repetition contributes to the fact that the statement becomes more emotional, it grows and the narrative becomes more tense.
4. Underlining, highlighting in the speech of that group of words, which carries a special meaning.
5. Duration and multiple actions also help express the lexical repetition. Examples of its use for this purpose are easy to find in folklore.
6. Mitigation of the transition from one topic of a statement to another.
7. Repetition of identical units makes the sentence more rhythmic, thus bringing it closer to the poem.
8. Binding of syntactic constructions in the text. This is due to a special rhythm, formed by the repetition of word combinations or words.
9. Slow down the narrative. This technique is characteristic of oral folk poetry. He not only slows down speech, but also helps to give a song character to a tale.

The lexical repetition in the works of the classics is a tool that helps make the statement expressive, connect phrases (along a chain), sharpen the meaning, a way to draw the reader's attention to the subtext. But in the composition of a schoolboy he is most often mistaken for a speech error by the teacher . But is this decision always motivated? The use of lexical repetition in speech can not be considered justified in only two cases:

• When it does not serve to link phrases in the text;
• When he does not perform an emphatic function.

Only on this basis it is possible to accept the use of lexical repetition for an error, which indicates that the student's vocabulary is very limited and he is not able to find a suitable substitute for the word.