What is the term for a sentence which reads same forwards and backwards?

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Please note, I'm not asking for a palindrome. I mean to say that only the word order is rearranged, not the actual spelling of the word. An example might be as follows:

First ladies rule the State and state the rule: ladies first.

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

1

Not an answer but this is related to the rhetorical pattern of reversal, called antimetabole or chiasmus where terms or patterns in the first clause are reversed in the second to give a new meaning, like Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you".

– Mitch
Aug 2 '18 at 12:59

4

Possible duplicate of Word for sentences which read the with their words (not characters!) reversed

– Neil Whitaker
Aug 3 '18 at 5:29

add a comment |

Please note, I'm not asking for a palindrome. I mean to say that only the word order is rearranged, not the actual spelling of the word. An example might be as follows:

First ladies rule the State and state the rule: ladies first.

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

1

Not an answer but this is related to the rhetorical pattern of reversal, called antimetabole or chiasmus where terms or patterns in the first clause are reversed in the second to give a new meaning, like Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you".

– Mitch
Aug 2 '18 at 12:59

4

Possible duplicate of Word for sentences which read the with their words (not characters!) reversed

– Neil Whitaker
Aug 3 '18 at 5:29

add a comment |

Please note, I'm not asking for a palindrome. I mean to say that only the word order is rearranged, not the actual spelling of the word. An example might be as follows:

First ladies rule the State and state the rule: ladies first.

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

Please note, I'm not asking for a palindrome. I mean to say that only the word order is rearranged, not the actual spelling of the word. An example might be as follows:

First ladies rule the State and state the rule: ladies first.

terminology sentence-patterns

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

asked Aug 2 '18 at 12:26

Neil

2,3141215

1

Not an answer but this is related to the rhetorical pattern of reversal, called antimetabole or chiasmus where terms or patterns in the first clause are reversed in the second to give a new meaning, like Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you".

– Mitch
Aug 2 '18 at 12:59

4

Possible duplicate of Word for sentences which read the with their words (not characters!) reversed

– Neil Whitaker
Aug 3 '18 at 5:29

add a comment |

1

Not an answer but this is related to the rhetorical pattern of reversal, called antimetabole or chiasmus where terms or patterns in the first clause are reversed in the second to give a new meaning, like Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you".

– Mitch
Aug 2 '18 at 12:59

4

Possible duplicate of Word for sentences which read the with their words (not characters!) reversed

– Neil Whitaker
Aug 3 '18 at 5:29

Not an answer but this is related to the rhetorical pattern of reversal, called antimetabole or chiasmus where terms or patterns in the first clause are reversed in the second to give a new meaning, like Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you".

– Mitch
Aug 2 '18 at 12:59

Possible duplicate of Word for sentences which read the with their words (not characters!) reversed

– Neil Whitaker
Aug 3 '18 at 5:29

add a comment |

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

They are still called palindromes, but are qualified by the term word-unit.

There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"). Word-unit palindromes were made popular in the recreational linguistics community by J. A. Lindon in the 1960s. Occasional examples in English were created in the 19th century. Several in French and Latin date to the Middle Ages.
- wikipedia

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

add a comment |

Chiasmus, would be my response.

Taken from literarydevices.net:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

Let us try to understand chiasmus with the help of an example:

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

So in the example above, 'fool' and 'kiss' swap positions as noun and verb from the first usage to the second.

Incidentally, this is also a great example of zeugma.

In the OPs example, the first clause is mirrored in the second clause with the connective 'and' marking the mid point.

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

8

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

1

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

1

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

1

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

add a comment |

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

They are still called palindromes, but are qualified by the term word-unit.

There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"). Word-unit palindromes were made popular in the recreational linguistics community by J. A. Lindon in the 1960s. Occasional examples in English were created in the 19th century. Several in French and Latin date to the Middle Ages.
- wikipedia

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

add a comment |

They are still called palindromes, but are qualified by the term word-unit.

There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"). Word-unit palindromes were made popular in the recreational linguistics community by J. A. Lindon in the 1960s. Occasional examples in English were created in the 19th century. Several in French and Latin date to the Middle Ages.
- wikipedia

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

add a comment |

They are still called palindromes, but are qualified by the term word-unit.

There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"). Word-unit palindromes were made popular in the recreational linguistics community by J. A. Lindon in the 1960s. Occasional examples in English were created in the 19th century. Several in French and Latin date to the Middle Ages.
- wikipedia

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

They are still called palindromes, but are qualified by the term word-unit.

There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?"). Word-unit palindromes were made popular in the recreational linguistics community by J. A. Lindon in the 1960s. Occasional examples in English were created in the 19th century. Several in French and Latin date to the Middle Ages.
- wikipedia

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

answered Aug 2 '18 at 12:34

Lawrence

31.8k563112

add a comment |

Chiasmus, would be my response.

Taken from literarydevices.net:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

Let us try to understand chiasmus with the help of an example:

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

So in the example above, 'fool' and 'kiss' swap positions as noun and verb from the first usage to the second.

Incidentally, this is also a great example of zeugma.

In the OPs example, the first clause is mirrored in the second clause with the connective 'and' marking the mid point.

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

8

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

1

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

1

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

1

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

add a comment |

Chiasmus, would be my response.

Taken from literarydevices.net:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

Let us try to understand chiasmus with the help of an example:

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

So in the example above, 'fool' and 'kiss' swap positions as noun and verb from the first usage to the second.

Incidentally, this is also a great example of zeugma.

In the OPs example, the first clause is mirrored in the second clause with the connective 'and' marking the mid point.

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

8

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

1

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

1

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

1

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

add a comment |

Chiasmus, would be my response.

Taken from literarydevices.net:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

Let us try to understand chiasmus with the help of an example:

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

So in the example above, 'fool' and 'kiss' swap positions as noun and verb from the first usage to the second.

Incidentally, this is also a great example of zeugma.

In the OPs example, the first clause is mirrored in the second clause with the connective 'and' marking the mid point.

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

Chiasmus, would be my response.

Taken from literarydevices.net:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

Let us try to understand chiasmus with the help of an example:

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

So in the example above, 'fool' and 'kiss' swap positions as noun and verb from the first usage to the second.

Incidentally, this is also a great example of zeugma.

In the OPs example, the first clause is mirrored in the second clause with the connective 'and' marking the mid point.

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

edited Aug 3 '18 at 21:03

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

answered Aug 2 '18 at 19:19

Inoutguttiwutts

3066

8

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

1

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

1

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

1

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

add a comment |

8

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

1

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

1

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

1

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

This...is actually a really cool term. From OED: "A grammatical figure by which the order of words in one of two parallel clauses is inverted in the other." However, without citation and a definition in your answer you'll probably be downvoted and possibly deleted. Can you edit to add the relevant information? Thanks!

– scohe001
Aug 2 '18 at 19:54

This does not fit the example, so it is technically not a correct answer to the question, but good information.

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 15:22

I disagree. The original example from the OP features chiasmus quite clearly, with the exact words before 'and' mirrored afterwards.

– Inoutguttiwutts
Aug 3 '18 at 16:00

oh, I see now, they are clauses. so it is clauses balanced against each other. sorry. any minor edits you could make?

– Malachi
Aug 3 '18 at 20:39

Yeah, I hate to downvote chiasmus (let alone zeugma) but they have nothing whatsoever to do with what OP was asking about...

– lly
Aug 4 '18 at 11:14

add a comment |

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