Horror aequi, [a] or avoidance of identity, [2]: 100 is a linguistic principle that language users have psychological [3]: 266 or physiological [1]: 51 motives or limits on cognitive planning [1]: 51 to avoid repetition of identical linguistic structures.
The term originated in 1909 in Karl Brugmann, [4]: 219 who used it to explain dissimilation, [3]: 266 the tendency for similar consonants or vowels in a word to become less similar, [5]: 146 which can often be chalked up to simply " euphony". [4]: 219 Today, however, the term is usually applied instead to grammatical elements or structures. [4]: 219
One of the most widely cited definitions [6]: 39 [7]: 71 is that of Günter Rohdenburg: "the horror aequi principle involves the widespread (and presumably universal) tendency to avoid the use of formally (near-)identical and (near-)adjacent (non-coordinate) grammatical elements or structures." [8]: 205
In the study of phonology, such avoidance falls under the obligatory contour principle, [2]: 100 which holds that certain consecutive identical sounds are not permitted [9] [10]: 383–84 (such as in Mandarin Chinese, where two third tones are not used consecutively [11]: 104 ).
The term horror aequi is sometimes extended to the stylistic preference to avoid repeating the same word in a given text. [12]
One illustration of horror aequi in English is the use of and + verb rather than the typical to + verb following certain to-infinitive verbs such as wait, try and check in order to avoid repeating the to + verb pattern. [8]: 236–42 Thus, speakers typically use:
But following a to-infinitive, speakers will often use and instead of to: [8]: 236–42
In addition to using and instead of to in order to avoid horror aequi, another strategy is to delay the second infinitive verb with intervening words [8]: 236 or use an alternative infinitive clause. For example:
Another reason why diligent writers may avoid the second to + verb structure is that it can be ambiguous. Since it is commonly interpreted as an elision of the first prepositional phrase from "in order to" it will avoid the oxymoronic interpretation "to wait in order to start the process" given that waiting and starting the process are contradictory.[ citation needed]
Other examples clearly demonstrate how horror aequi helps prevent confusion. Sentences with repetitive words or forms can be nearly incomprehensible even when adhering to grammatical rules. [2]: 101
?
The boy whom the girl whom the other boy had hit had called came running.Confusion here comes from both the repeated embedded who relative clauses and from the lack of semantic variety. Merely adding semantic difference can add some clarity: [2]: 101
?
The number that the girl whom the horse had kicked had called was for animal control.The horror aequi principle holds that both of these examples would be avoided.
[Horror aequi…]…or fear of repeating a word is very common in the media. It's a journalistic compulsion that is detrimental to clear communication and understanding – but easy to avoid.
Horror aequi, [a] or avoidance of identity, [2]: 100 is a linguistic principle that language users have psychological [3]: 266 or physiological [1]: 51 motives or limits on cognitive planning [1]: 51 to avoid repetition of identical linguistic structures.
The term originated in 1909 in Karl Brugmann, [4]: 219 who used it to explain dissimilation, [3]: 266 the tendency for similar consonants or vowels in a word to become less similar, [5]: 146 which can often be chalked up to simply " euphony". [4]: 219 Today, however, the term is usually applied instead to grammatical elements or structures. [4]: 219
One of the most widely cited definitions [6]: 39 [7]: 71 is that of Günter Rohdenburg: "the horror aequi principle involves the widespread (and presumably universal) tendency to avoid the use of formally (near-)identical and (near-)adjacent (non-coordinate) grammatical elements or structures." [8]: 205
In the study of phonology, such avoidance falls under the obligatory contour principle, [2]: 100 which holds that certain consecutive identical sounds are not permitted [9] [10]: 383–84 (such as in Mandarin Chinese, where two third tones are not used consecutively [11]: 104 ).
The term horror aequi is sometimes extended to the stylistic preference to avoid repeating the same word in a given text. [12]
One illustration of horror aequi in English is the use of and + verb rather than the typical to + verb following certain to-infinitive verbs such as wait, try and check in order to avoid repeating the to + verb pattern. [8]: 236–42 Thus, speakers typically use:
But following a to-infinitive, speakers will often use and instead of to: [8]: 236–42
In addition to using and instead of to in order to avoid horror aequi, another strategy is to delay the second infinitive verb with intervening words [8]: 236 or use an alternative infinitive clause. For example:
Another reason why diligent writers may avoid the second to + verb structure is that it can be ambiguous. Since it is commonly interpreted as an elision of the first prepositional phrase from "in order to" it will avoid the oxymoronic interpretation "to wait in order to start the process" given that waiting and starting the process are contradictory.[ citation needed]
Other examples clearly demonstrate how horror aequi helps prevent confusion. Sentences with repetitive words or forms can be nearly incomprehensible even when adhering to grammatical rules. [2]: 101
?
The boy whom the girl whom the other boy had hit had called came running.Confusion here comes from both the repeated embedded who relative clauses and from the lack of semantic variety. Merely adding semantic difference can add some clarity: [2]: 101
?
The number that the girl whom the horse had kicked had called was for animal control.The horror aequi principle holds that both of these examples would be avoided.
[Horror aequi…]…or fear of repeating a word is very common in the media. It's a journalistic compulsion that is detrimental to clear communication and understanding – but easy to avoid.