Paralipsis

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is John calling from Burlington, Vermont.

Hello, John.

Hello, John.

How can we help you, John?

Well, there’s a word I think I knew at one point long ago, and I cannot remember it for the life of me. And I’m hoping you guys can help.

Was it Shlemiel?

No.

No, keep going.

Was it Biscuit?

No.

Give us a clue.

The word describes a certain kind of verbal behavior in which someone says something to the effect that, well, I’m not going to say anything about X, but XXXXXX.

That’s called lying.

There are lots of variations of it.

That’s true.

And I hear it with some regularity and just…

You do?

Yeah.

Well, it’s kind of a trope. It’s kind of the screenwriters and TV sitcom writers. It’s just kind of a standard little jokey thing they throw in there as well.

I mean, people genuinely do it in real life.

I’m imagining politicians.

Oh, certainly politicians, yeah.

And pundits.

Yeah.

Pundits.

So, John, you’re looking for the word for that.

We can help you.

The word is probably paralepsis. Does that ring a bill?

No, but I’ll take it anyway.

That’s a rhetorical term, right? From the classic rhetorical devices that we use when we write and speak.

Yes, P-A-R-A-L-E-P-S-I-S, Paralepsis, or sometimes it’s Paralepsis with an I in there. And it comes from Greek words that mean leaving aside.

So you might say, for example, it would be unseemly to mention my opponent’s drinking problem, so I won’t. And then go on, you know.

And then say, except you could.

Describe how late they were at the bar last.

Right, exactly.

Exactly.

It goes by lots of different names, but probably that’s the most common name for it, Paralypsis.

Great. Well, I’m going to write that down so I don’t have to call you back in a week and ask you again.

All right. Well, we’re happy to help, John.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I’ve been looking for that for a while.

Yeah, sure. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Okay. Bye.

Call us 877-929-9673.