ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-CORE-242-023 · ATLAS 251

Foregrounding

The artistic highlighting of linguistic forms through deviation, parallelism, or conspicuous repetition.

Explanation

The artistic highlighting of linguistic forms through deviation, parallelism, or conspicuous repetition. It interrupts automatised understanding and makes the form of expression itself perceptible.

Example

An unexpected word order makes an ordinary sentence suddenly seem strange.

Counterexample

Merely mentioning “Foregrounding” without the described function is not a sufficient example.

Distinction

Not every salience effect is literary foregrounding; here perceptibility is deliberately produced by formal organisation.

Effect on thought and perception

It interrupts automatised understanding and makes the form of expression itself perceptible.

Resonance

In the atlas, Foregrounding closes 1 previously unresolved reference line(s) and opens controlled paths of thought.

Etymology

Technical core term; individual etymological review pending

Provenance

ATLAS 241 residual-case triage → profile candidate 241-A → source and neighbourhood cross-check → ATLAS 242

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Foregrounding“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-CORE-242-023. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-CORE-242-023

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-CORE-242-023

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