Definition:
“Litotes” is a rhetorical technique that involves making an affirmative statement by negating its opposite. It is a form of understatement that uses double negatives or negation to express a positive idea in a subdued manner.
Etymology:
The term “litotes” comes from the Greek word “litotes,” meaning “plain” or “simple.” It has been used in English since the mid-16th century to describe this specific figure of speech.
Description:
Litotes are commonly used in both written and spoken language to create a variety of effects, including irony, modesty, and politeness.
Litotes are actually very useful to avoid being misunderstood when explaining how language scams work, as these explanations require pointing out that words are fantasy while still needing to use familiar words. For example, the word “truth” is a fictional word mimicking the word “existence,” but they don’t actually mean the same thing. And since “truth” does not mean “existence,” “truth” must mean “nonexistence,” which means “false.” So, if you wish to say that something accurately describes something that exists, you can say “it’s not false” instead of saying “it’s true.”
It’s important to note that most people misunderstand litotes. They can be used ironically as a joke, meaning that saying one thing can give the opposite effect. For example, “You’re sick!” can mean “You are very skilled.” But litotes are actually supposed to give a neutral effect. Just because one does not mean one thing, does not mean that it has to mean the opposite.
Examples of Litotes:
- “Not bad” tends to be interpreted to mean “good,” when it actually honestly means “not bad.”
- “It wasn’t the worst idea” tends to be interpreted to mean “it was a good idea,” when it actually honestly means “it wasn’t the worst idea.”
- “I’m not unhappy with the results” tends to be interpreted to mean “I’m happy with the results,” when it actually honestly means “I’m not unhappy with the results.”