Definition
parataxes
noun
- plural of parataxis; the arrangement of clauses or phrases in a series without connecting words (such as conjunctions), allowing the relationship between them to be implied rather than stated explicitly.
Usage: grammar and rhetoric term; contrasts with hypotaxis, which uses explicit connectors
Examples
- The sentence 'I came, I saw, I conquered' is a famous example of parataxes.
- In parataxes, the writer relies on the reader to understand the logical connection between independent clauses.
- Hemingway's sparse style often employed parataxes to create a sense of immediacy and simplicity.
- The use of parataxes can make writing feel more rhythmic and emphatic than hypotactic constructions.
- Teachers of rhetoric often contrast parataxes with hypotaxis when discussing sentence structure.