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A.Word.A.Day--parataxis

Pronunciation Sound Clip RealAudio

parataxis (par-uh-TAK-sis) noun

The juxtaposition of clauses or phrases without the use of coordinating or subordinating conjunctions, as It was cold; the snows came.

[Greek, a placing side by side, from paratassein, to arrange side by side : para-, beside + tassein, to arrange.]

"Confessional writing is very much the currency of this collection: experience, not form or genre, comes across as the motivating impulse, despite occasional odd paragraphing and typeface shifts and a fondness for parataxis and collage.
Chris Feik; Pulp Fiction; Meanjin; Issue 1, 1997.

The bartender saw a couple of patrons too drunk to drive; he called a parataxis. -Anu

This week's theme: words about words.

X-Bonus

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. -Chinese proverb

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