Wise Wednesday Grammar: Figures of Speech (Adynaton)

Figure of speech.

SCHEMES.

ADYNATON

Adynaton (plural adynata) is a figure of speech in the form of hyperbole taken to such extreme lengths as to suggest a complete impossibility:

• I will sooner have a beard grow in the palm of my hand than he shall get one of his cheek.

The word derives from the Greek ἀδύνατον (adunaton), neuter of ἀδύνατος (adunatos), "unable, impossible" (a-, "without" + dynasthai, "to be powerful").

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /əˈdɪnəˌtɒːn/
• (US) IPA: /əˈdɪnəˌtɑn/
• Rhymes: -ɒn

Classical and Medieval usage

Adynaton was a widespread literary and rhetorical device during the Classical Period and was known in Latin as impossibilia. A frequent usage was to refer to one highly unlikely event occurring sooner than another:

One can expect an agreement between philosophers sooner than between clocks. Seneca, "The Pumpkinification of Claudius".

However it largely fell into disuse during the Middle Ages before undergoing a minor revival in the works of romantic poets, who would boast of the power of their love, and how it could never end.

Together, we shall sooner see, I, & you, The Rhône tarry, & reverse its course, The Saône roil, & return to source, Than this my fire ever die down Maurice Scève

Fiction, folklore and drama

Adynata are sometimes used within works of fiction or drama:

Part heat from fire, then, by that notion,

Part frost from snow, wet from the ocean!

Ask less!      Henrik Ibsen, Brand

Impossible tasks appear often in legends and folklore, such as the tale of "The Spinning-Woman by the Spring", and can form elements of ballads, riddles and proverbs.

Modern usage

Some modern adynata include:

• In English, "When pigs fly!", and "Not before Hell freezes over!"
• In German the expression "Wenn Schweine fliegen könnten" is identical with the English version: "When pigs can fly". - Also the German expression: "Wenn Ostern und Weihnachten zusammenfallen" means "When Christmas and Easter coincide"
• In Italian, the expression is "Quando gli asini voleranno" ("when donkeys fly").
• In French, the expression is "quand les poules auront des dents" ("when hens grow teeth").
• In Spanish, the expression is "cuando las vacas vuelen" ("when cows fly"), or "cuando las ranas crien pelo" ("when a frog grows hairs") 
• In Latvian, expressions include "Kad pūcei aste ziedēs"
• in Dutch, the expression is "Als Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen" ("when Easter and Pentecost are the same day").
• In Malay, the expression is "Tunggu kucing bertanduk" ("when cats grow horns").
• In Malayalam, the expression is "Veluttha Kaakka Malarnnu Parannaal" ("if the white crow flies upside down").
• In Malayalam, the expression is "Kozhikku mula vannal" ("when hen grow breast").
• In Bulgarian, the expressions are "когато цъфнат налъмите" (kogato tsâfnat nalâmite) -- "when the clogs blossom", and "когато върбата роди круши" (kogato vârbata rodi krushi) -- "when pears grow on a willow tree").

• In Russian, the expression is "когда рак на горе свистнет" (kogdá rak na goré svístnet) - "when the crawfish whistles on the mountain".
• In Serbian or Croatian, the expression is "kad na vrbi rodi grožđe" ("when grapes grow on a willow").
• In Turkish, the expression is "balık kavağa çıkınca" ("when fish climb poplar trees").
• In Portuguese, the expression is "quando as galinhas tiverem dentes" ("when chickens grow teeth").
• in Swedish, the expression is "två torsdagar i veckan" ("two Thursdays in the same week"). It is also said as "two Sundays in the same week", but other weekdays are rarely used.
• in Hungarian, the expression is "majd ha piros hó esik" ("when it's snowing red")
• in Romanian, the expression is "La Pastele Cailor"

Written by NativeEnglish

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