Why we're not in the land of the white long cloud

Did you know when you describe something your adjectives should go in a certain order? That's why we're the land of the long white cloud, not the white long cloud. Recently, the culture editor of the BBC sent out a tweet about a book called The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase by Mark Forsyth, and the topic of the order of adjectives went wild on the internet. In his book, Forsyth reminds us of a rule in English we didn't know we knew. Adjectives need to be in a certain order to make sense.
 
Listen:

The Elements of Eloquence

Part 1 - 0:00 to 5:00

What does “set ablaze” mean?

“The land of the white long cloud”

“The land of Glory and Hope”

Which countries are they talking about? What is the correct word order?

The correct order for adjectives:

O

S

A

S

C

O

M

P

Noun

Discuss in pairs or groups

Where would you put texture (smooth) or condition (broken) or taste (sweet) in this series?

Are there any exceptions to the adjective rule?

What about The Big Bad Wolf?

Part 2 – 5:00 to 6:25

Read after listening:

Have you ever wondered why we say fiddle-faddle and not faddle-fiddle? Why

is it ping-pong and pitter-patter rather than pong-ping and patter-pitter? Why dribs and drabs rather than vice versa? Why can’t a kitchen be span and spic? Whence riff-raff, mish-mash, flim-flam, chit-chat, tit for tat, knick-knack, zig-zag, sing-song, ding-dong, King Kong, criss-cross, shilly-shally, see-saw, hee-haw, flip-flop, hippity-hop, tick-tock, tic-tac-toe, eeny-meeny-miney-moe, bric-a-brac, clickey-clack, hickory-dickory-dock, kit and kaboodle, and bibbity-bobbity-boo?

The answer is that the vowels for which the tongue is high and in the front always come before the vowels for which the tongue is low and in the back.

What are the following rhetorical formulas?

chiasmus

diacope

alliteration

progressio

anaphora

Here's a list of formulas I found on the web:

Word	Definition
acatalectic	having complete or full number of syllables in a poetic line
accismus	in rhetoric, pretending to refuse something
adynaton	rhetorical use of a nearly impossible situation for emphasis
agnomination	rhetorical use of similar-sounding words for effect
alogism	illogical statement
anacoenosis	rhetorical questioning of hearers or opponents for opinions on a matter
anacoluthon	moving to new topic of discussion before finishing current one
anadiplosis	repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause
analepsis	repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis; pleonasm
anaphora	repetition of a word at beginning of successive phrases for emphasis
anastrophe	reversing or inverting word order as rhetorical device
antanaclasis	repetition of key word of phrase as a play on words
anthorism	counter-definition; redefinition of opponent's term for rhetorical effect
anthypophora	refuting an objection using a contrary inference
anticlimax	expression whose last part is decreased in effect from the prior part
antimetabole	figure in which words or phrases are repeated but in inverse order
antimetathesis	inversion of the parts of an antithesis
antiphrasis	use of words in a sense opposite to literal
antistrophe	repetition of words in reverse order
antistrophon	turning of opponent's own argument against them
antithesis	contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses
antonomasia	use of descriptive phrase or epithet instead of proper name
aparithmesis	rhetorical answer to a proposition
apodosis	main concluding clause in a conditional sentence
apophasis	saying something by stating that you will not mention it
aposiopesis	suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
apostrophe	addressing of a personified thing rhetorically
asteism	refined irony
asyndeton	rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions
atticism	expression characterized by conciseness and elegance
auxesis	increase in size; hyperbole or augmentation of meaning
bathos	appearance of the commonplace in elevated matter for rhetorical effect
catastasis	introductory part of speech where narrator introduces subject
chiasmus	contrast by parallelism in reverse order
climax	gradual increase in force of rhetorical expressions or drama of a performance
consecution	logical sequence or progression of an argument
diacope	rhetorical separation of a compound word by a third word; tmesis
diallage	device in which many arguments brought upon one point
diallelus	circular argument
dialogism	rhetorical discussion in form of an imaginary dialogue
diaporesis	rhetorical expression of uncertainty of which of two options to adopt
diasyrm	rhetorical device of condemning through faint praise
diatyposis	rhetorically vivid and clear description of a subject
dicaeology	defending oneself in argument by claiming justification
dilemma	in rhetoric, forcing a choice between two equally unfavourable choices
dilogy	intentional ambiguousness
dinumeration	numbering of rhetorical points one by one
ecbole	digression
echolalia	echo-like repetition of another's words
echopraxia	echo-like repetition of another's actions
ecphasis	explicit declaration or interpretation
ecphonesis	rhetorical exclamation
ecphrasis	plain interpretation of a thing
ekphrasis	description of a work of art as rhetorical exercise
enantiosis	ironic expression of idea by refuting its contrary
enthymeme	rhetorical suppression or omission of a premise
epanadiplosis	sentence which begins and ends with same word
epanalepsis	repetition
epanaphora	repetition of same word at beginning of multiple phrases or sentences
epanastrophe	device where end of one sentence is repeated as beginning of next
epanodos	recapitulation of chief points in a discourse after digression
epanorthosis	retraction of statement in order to intensify it
epexegesis	addition of words to make the sense more clear
epibole	device of beginning several clauses with same word
epilogue	rhetorical conclusion or summary
epiphonema	exclamation, finishing phrase or reflection
epiphora	rhetorical repetition of a word at the end of several sentences
epiplexis	persuasion through stylized but severe criticism of opponent
epiploce	use of multiple entwined points in succession in an argument
epistrophe	ending of successive clauses with the same word
epitrope	rhetorical but ironic granting of permission to an opponent to do something
epizeuxis	immediate repetition of a word for emphasis
erotesis	rhetorical questioning
ethopoeia	delineation of the character of someone or something
euphemism	rhetorical use of a pleasant or favourable form in place of a harsh one
exergasia	remaining on one point of argument while gradually fleshing it out
gemination	doubling of a consonant sound; in rhetoric, repetition of a word or phrase
hendiadys	expression of adjective and noun as two adjectives
heterosis	use of one form of a noun or pronoun in place of another for rhetorical effect
homeoteleuton	the use or occurrence of similar word endings
homoeoptoton	use of series of words sharing the same verb or noun inflections
hypallage	figure in which relations between words are changed
hyperbaton	rhetorical device in which word order is reversed
hyperbole	impression by extravagant exaggeration
hypercatalectic	having an extra syllable on the end of a line of verse
hypobole	anticipating and refuting objections to an argument
hypophora	statement of an opponent's probable but as yet unstated objection
hypostrophe	return to primary argument after digression
hypotyposis	vivid description of a scene
hysteron proteron	in rhetoric, putting first what normally comes last
ischiorrhogic	of an iambic line, having spondees in the second, fourth or sixth place
lemma	preliminary proposition, theme, argument or headword
litotes	understatement by affirming using negation of the contrary
macrology	much talk with little to say; redundancy; pleonasm
meiosis	understatement of size or importance for rhetorical effect
merism	rhetorical device of contrasting two parts of a whole
mesozeugma	placement of a word referring to two different clauses between them
metabasis	transition; transfer; in rhetoric, movement from one topic to another
metalepsis	metonymy of a double or indirect kind
metaphor	figurative transfer of qualities from one object or event to another
metaphrase	turning of prose into verse or vice versa
metastasis	removal from one place to another; rapid transition in argument
metonymy	figurative use of word to name an attribute of its subject
mimesis	rhetorical imitation of another's words or mannerisms
mycterism	sneering; rhetorical sarcasm or irony
noema	stating something obscurely, forcing listeners to work it out
oxymoron	figure of speech combining contradictory terms
palillogy	repetition of a word or word or phrase
parabola	rhetorical use of simile or metaphor
paradiastole	description of an unfavourable quality through a favourable synonym
paradigma	rhetorical comparison by resemblance to another thing
paraenesis	rhetorical expression of advice or warning
paragram	play on words in which letters are changed
paralipsis	fixing attention on subject by pretending to neglect it
paranomasia	rhetorical art of punning
parathesis	apposition; compounding of words without change
parecbasis	rhetorical digression or deviation from expected topic
paregmenon	repetition of a word or its cognates in a series of words
parembole	insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
paremptosis	insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
parison	even balance of elements in a sentence
paroemia	proverb or adage used in argumentation
paromoion	starting statement with several words starting with the same letter
paromologia	partial admission of opponent's argument to strengthen one's final position
parrhesia	asking forgiveness in advance for frank or bold speech
pathopoeia	excitation of passion by rhetoric or poetry
periergia	use of elevated style to discuss a trivial matter
periphrasis	circumlocution; round-about expression
perissology	verbiage; pleonasm
pleonasm	redundancy; use of more words than necessary
ploce	repetition of word in more expressive sense for emphasis
polyptoton	repetition of word in same sentence with multiple inflectional endings
polysyndeton	rhetorical device of repeating conjunction for emphasis
preterition	passing over or omission; drawing attention to a thing by claiming to omit it
procatalepsis	anticipating and answering an opponent's objections
prolepsis	anticipation; device where objections are anticipated
pronomination	description of a thing by its qualities rather than its proper name
prosopopoeia	personification; representation of absent person as speaking
protasis	first clause in a conditional expression; introductory part of a play
prothysteron	putting last what normally comes first in an expression or argument
protozeugma	zeugma in which word referring to two clauses is placed before both of them
schesis	deriding opponent's argument by referring to his way of thought
simile	comparison of two things
sorites	string of statements where end of one is subject of next
superjection	exaggeration; hyperbole
syllepsis	figure where word related to two others differently
syllogism	argument in which two premises lead to a logical conclusion
symploce	repetition of word at start of one and end of next clause
synchoresis	concession made for the sake of more effective retort
synchysis	confusion of meaning due to unusual arrangement
syncrisis	comparison of diverse or contradictory things
syndeton	phrase whose parts are joined by a conjunction
synecdoche	part used to refer to whole or vice versa
synoeciosis	rhetorical figure of coupling opposites
tapinosis	use of degrading or diminutive diction regarding a topic
tmesis	separation of word into parts by an intervening word
trope	any figure of speech; figurative language
tuism	apostrophe; reference to or regard to a second person
zeugma	use of a word to modify two or more words in different ways

Quizlet quiz:

36 terms