Definition of Tmesis
Tmesis is derived from the Greek word tmesis, which means “to cut.” It is a rhetorical device that involves the breaking down of a phrase or a word into two parts. In simpler words, tmesis is an insertion of a word between the parts of a word, a compound word, or a phrase (phrasal verbs usually). It is a practice of dividing a phrase or word into its components by inserting another word in the middle of that phrase or word. Tmesis is commonly employed in words that have more than three syllables. Let us examine these two examples of tmesis to have a better understanding of this device:
- Eliza Dolitttle: “Fan-bloody-tastic” or “abso-blooming-lutely” (Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw).
Here, the words “fantastic” and “absolutely” are separated by the words “bloody” and “blooming,” respectively.
- “How-heinous-ever it be,” (Richard II, by William Shakespeare).
The word, however, is separated by the word “heinous.”
Classification of Tmesis
Tmesis examples may be classified according to the device’s two main groups. The first group of tmesis is formed from cutting phrasal verbs. For example, the phrasal verb “turn off” can be cut into two parts by inserting another word, such as “radio,” to form the phrase “turn the radio off“). The meaning of the phrasal verb in this example is retained. In other instances, however, it may change. Another category of English tmesis is formed by adding an infix in modifiers. A good example for this is, “I got forty-bloody-seven /and that’s good e-bloody-nough” (Tumba Bloody Rumba, by John O’Grady).
Examples of Tmesis in Literature
Example #1: Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare)
“This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.”
In this excerpt, “somewhere” is split up by inserting the word “other.” The purpose of splitting up the word is to highlight and draw the focus of readers to the fact that Romeo is not there, but somewhere else.
Example #2: Hymn to Christ (By John Donne)
“In whattorn shipsoever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem
Whatseasoever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of thy blood.”
This is a very good example of phrasal verb tmesis. “Whatsoever” is split into two parts by inserting the words, “torn ship.” The same is done in the third line, where the word “sea” is inserted in the middle of the compound word “whatsoever.”
Example #3: Old Age Sticks (By E. E. Cummings)
“old age sticks
up Keep
Off
signs) &youth yanks them
down(old
age
cries NoTres) & (pas)
youth laughs
(sing
old agescolds Forbid
den Stop
Must
n’t Don’t&) youth goes
right on
gr
owing old”
Cumming has used plenty of tmesis in his works. This poem is a good example. The phrasal verb “yanks down” is split apart by the word “them.” This split up of words is used for artistic purpose.
Example #4: Troilus & Cressida (By William Shakespeare)
“That man–how dearly ever parted.”
Shakespeare uses tmesis in his literary pieces. Here, the insertion of the word “dearly” into “however” emphasizes the fond feeling that the speaker has towards the dead person.
Example #5: Take a Girl Like You (By Kingsley Amis)
“It’s a sort of long cocktail—he got the formula off a barman in Marrakesh or some-bloody-where.”
The word “somewhere” is divided by the word “bloody.” This inserted word makes the readers focus on the speaker’s “I don’t care” attitude toward the origin of the formula.
Function of Tmesis
Tmesis is mainly used to create humor, and lay emphasis on a particular word or phrase. The Romans and Greeks used tmesis for special effects in literature. In comedy, it works as over-done exaggeration. In poetry, its task is to stress a point, as it forces readers to give more attention to the cut phrase or line. It is regularly used in informal speech, as well. In Australian English, it is called “tumba rumba.”