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What to do with redundancy?
Do these contain redundancy, IYO? If so, should we omit the redundancy?
I had a very, very, good day. Not in many, many, many years have I come across such a jerk. My love is like a red, red rose.
No, it's a literary technique. It strengthens the expression.
A "very, very good day" is much, much better than a "very good day" A "red, red rose" is much, much more red, or more poetic, than a "red rose".
"Do these contain redundancy, IYO? If so, should we omit the redundancy?"
These are not actually examples of redundancy. They're examples of repetition for emphatic effect.
Redundancy is a dodgy concept in language. It implies a word is somehow "unnecessary".
But if a word were "unnecessary", why would it be included in the first place?
<It implies a word is somehow "unnecessary". >
I've never accepted that layman's view of redundancy.
<Redundancy is a dodgy concept>
I'd say "complex", not "dodgy". language.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redundancy_(language)
Wikipedia: "In language, redundancy is the use of duplicative, unnecessary or useless wording. Some people expand the definition to include self-contradictory wording."
As I said, it's a dodgy concept.
Redundancy in this context under discussion.....in many cases it can be best desribed as tautology.
Hear are some redundancies.
absolutely essential absolutely necessary ACT test advance forward advance warning affluent rich always and forever anonymous stranger associate together attach together autobiography of my life awful bad bad trouble basic fundamentals begin to proceed boiling hot bunny rabbit cash money cease and desist Chile pepper circulated around classic tradition close proximity closed fist collaborate together with combined together complete monopoly completely filled component parts continuing on crimson red dark night delete out down under Each and every one of you elevate up end result enter into evil villain exactly the same falling down famous celebrities fellow colleagues Fill in the empty blank first of all for your FYI former graduate free gift full satisfaction gather together grand total Greetings & Salutations handwritten manuscript HIV virus hopes and aspirations hygienic cleaning I thought to myself immortalized forever individual person inner core jet plane KFC chicken kitty cat last will and testament LCD display live audience male son marital spouse merge together more easier my personal opinion negative misfortune new discovery newborn baby null and void original founder over and above pair of twins past experience past tradition Pie a la mode with ice cream pizza pie positive yes previous history print out proposed plan protective helmet raise up repeat again revert back rising above RSVP, please safe sanctuary Scotch Whisky sharp point sink down small speck solitary hermit specific example square box sufficient enough swampy marsh temper tantrum terrible tragedy tiny bit true fact turning around under cover unique individual unmarried old maid useless and unnecessary wall murals whether or not with au jus gravy Xerox copy A.M. in the morning ABS braking system academic scholar added bonus advance scout affirmative yes all inclusive and etc. ask a question at this point in time automatic ATM machine baby calf bare naked beautiful vista to look out upon boat marina brief moment burning hot CAT test Chicken Coq au Vin chili con carne with meat circle around clam chowder soup climb up close scrutiny cold frost commence to begin complete stop completely unanimous consensus of opinion convicted felon crystal clear deja vu all over again descend down duplicate copy elderly senior citizens empty hole empty space ending outcome essential necessity exact replica extreme hazard false illusion favorable approval female daughter final farewell first priority foreign imports former veteran freezing cold future plans good success grateful thanks growing greater hanging down honest truth hot water heater I remembered back ice cold income coming in initially from the beginning it's raining outside join together killed dead knowledgeable experts latex rubber little baby live witness manually by hand mental thought money-saving coupon More than unique--it's practically one of a kind! near vicinity New & Improved new innovations Not one single person oral conversation other alternatives P.I.N. number passing fad past history personal friend Pizza Hut pizza plait a braid postponed until later previously recorded prior history protective armor puppy dog refer back return back Rio Grande River round circle safe haven SAT test separate out shrimp scampi soda pop soup du jour of the day spinning around still remains surrounded on all sides tear apart temporary reprieve three triplets toys and playthings tuna fish two twins unexpected surprise unmarried bachelor unsolved mysteries usual custom V.I.N. number wear upon widow woman written down youthful teenager
Redundancy
In information theory, something is either 'one' or 'zero'. One state or another. So, the answer to a question is either 'Yes' or 'No'. However if when the infomation is being transmitted, there is corruption of the signal - noise - there is a possibility that 'one' may be mistaken for 'zero' or visa versa. To get round this problem, the signal containing the information is transmitted with some redundancy. To give an example: To reduce the risk of error, three units are transmitted. If noise corrupts one of these units, the other two units will show what the correct answer is. In language, you can imagine this excessive information is given by various types of duplication. To give an example: Can you come this weekend? Yes I can come this weekend, the weekend of the 18th and 19th of July. So, if the signal was corrupted. Can you come this weekend? *** I *** come this weekend, the weekend of the 18th and 19th of July. The message still gets through. That is why, speakers of English as a foreign language can still be understood, even though their English is far from perfect. |