Definition

1. Noun (Literary Term):
   • Apostrophe: A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract concept, or an inanimate object as if it were present and capable of understanding.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • "Ơi dòng sông, người đã chứng kiến bao kỷ niệm của tôi." là một hô ngữ. ("O river, you who have witnessed so many of my memories." is an apostrophe.)
  • Nhà thơ thường sử dụng hô ngữ để bày tỏ cảm xúc mãnh liệt. (Poets often use apostrophe to express intense emotion.)

Advanced Usage

• In classical Vietnamese poetry and oratory, hô ngữ is used to create dramatic effect, emotional intensity, or a sense of intimacy with the subject being addressed.

Variants and Related Words

• Lời hô gọi: A call or exclamation, which may share a similar vocal quality but lacks the specific literary definition of directly addressing an absent entity.

Synonyms

• Apostrophe: The direct English equivalent and technical term in literary analysis.
• Direct address: A more general descriptive term.

Related Literary Devices

• Personification: Attributing human characteristics to non-human things. An apostrophe often employs personification.
  • Example of both: "Hỡi gió, sao người cứ thổi mãi?" (O wind, why do you keep blowing?) Here, the wind is both directly addressed (apostrophe) and given human intent (personification).