Small People Are Tropical

Figaro has been getting quite a bit of mail noting that the BP chairman’s “small people” gaffe constitutes a trope, not just a figure of speech. So what kind of trope is it, they ask?

“Small people” is a metonymy, a trope that takes a part or characteristic of something and uses it to define the whole. Small people’s position in society is itty-bitty, a characteristic that’s used to define the people themselves.

“The little guy,” on the other hand, is a synecdoche—one person used to describe a type or group of people. Of course, the “little” part of the guy is a metonymy as well…

Whew. It’s getting tropical around here. In general, if you something isn’t literally true—the “small people” in America seem to get larger every day—then it’s probably either a trope or a lie.  And what are the other tropes? You’ve certainly heard of ‘em:  metaphor and irony.

Comments

[Jennifer]

What's the difference between a figure of speech and a trope?

[Figaro]

A figure of speech constitutes unusual words, or words put in an unusual order. A trope, on the other hand, is the use of "non-literal" language, or words that have meaning beyond the literal.

"The moon is a balloon." It's not, literally (unless you don't trust those government types at NASA). But it's not a lie, either, since the intent is to make the reader see the moon differently. Therefore it's a trope.

But wait! "Moon" and "balloon" rhyme! That makes it a figure of speech as well.

[Roberto]

Is "tropical" really proper usage to refer to the use of tropes?

[Figaro]

Yep. Both come from the Greek word "tropos," meaning "turn." The tropics are a part of the planet that turn to follow the sun. A heliotropic plant also turns to follow the sun. Tropes turn phrases to follow the speaker's brilliant meaning.