Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

Which of the following refers to the omission of conjunctions in a series of phrases?

1. Asyndeton

2. Polysyndeton

3. Oxymoron

4. Synecdoche

The correct answer is: Asyndeton

The term that refers to the omission of conjunctions in a series of phrases is asyndeton. This rhetorical device creates a sense of urgency or emphasizes the items in the series by removing conjunctions such as "and" or "or." For instance, in the phrase "I came, I saw, I conquered," there are no conjunctions between the phrases, which contributes to a more impactful and rapid-fire communication style. Polysyndeton, in contrast, involves the deliberate use of multiple conjunctions in a series of phrases, creating a different rhythm and potential emphasis. An oxymoron is a figure of speech combining contradictory terms, such as "deafening silence." Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa, such as "all hands on deck" where "hands" refers to people. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific role of asyndeton in language and communication.