Paraphrase

Introduction

Paraphrasing is a literary device used to restate, condense, or simplify the original text while maintaining the original meaning. It involves rewriting a passage or expression in your own words, often to clarify the original message or to make it more comprehensible and accessible to a different audience. Paraphrasing is not just about changing words; it’s about capturing and conveying the essence of the original text without copying it verbatim. This technique is crucial in writing, as it helps avoid plagiarism, supports the clarity of exposition, and allows the writer to emphasize particular aspects of the original content.

Pronunciation: /ˈper.ə.freɪz/

When do writers use Paraphrase?

Writers use paraphrasing extensively across various contexts to enhance clarity, improve understanding, and adapt the original message to different audiences. It is particularly useful in the following situations:

• Academic writing: To demonstrate comprehension of source material without using direct quotations.
• Journalism: To reword information from sources such as speeches or documents in a way that is suitable for the audience.
• Content creation: To restate technical or dense information in a more accessible form for broader audiences.
• Literary analysis: To explain and interpret complex passages or theories.
• Business communications: To clarify legal, technical, or jargon-heavy text for stakeholders or clients. Overall, paraphrasing is vital for effective communication, as it allows writers to present existing ideas in new ways, ensuring the content remains fresh and engaging.

Rules for using Paraphrase

To effectively use paraphrasing in your writing, consider the following rules:

1. Understand the Source: Fully grasp the original message before attempting to paraphrase it. Misunderstanding can lead to inaccurate restatements.
2. Use Your Own Words: Avoid using the same phrases or terminology as the original text. This requires a good vocabulary and a clear understanding of the language.
3. Maintain the Original Meaning: Ensure that your paraphrase accurately reflects the original intent and information of the source material.
4. Be Concise: Aim to make the text more succinct where possible, eliminating unnecessary details that are not central to the main point.
5. Attribute the Original Source: Even though you are using your own words, it’s essential to credit the original author to avoid plagiarism.
6. Check Your Work: Compare your paraphrased passage with the original to ensure that it is both different in wording and similar in meaning. By adhering to these rules, you can use paraphrasing effectively to enhance your writing, avoid plagiarism, and engage your audience with clear and understandable content.

Types of Paraphrase

Paraphrasing can be categorized into several types, each serving different purposes depending on the context and desired outcome. Here are the primary types of paraphrase:

1. Condensing Paraphrase: This involves reducing the length of the original text while preserving its essential meaning, often used to distill complex ideas into more digestible content.
2. Expansive Paraphrase: Opposite to condensing, this type expands on the original text by adding explanations, examples, or further details to enhance understanding.
3. Simplifying Paraphrase: This form aims to simplify the language or concepts of the original text, making it more accessible to a broader or different audience, such as children or non-specialists.
4. Comparative Paraphrase: Used mainly in academic and research contexts, it juxtaposes the original text with alternative perspectives or similar texts to highlight differences or similarities in understanding.
5. Creative Paraphrase: Often found in literature and arts, this type involves a more creative or interpretative approach to rewriting the text, adding stylistic elements or personal insights.

Paraphrase in Literature

In literature, paraphrasing is often used to make classical texts more accessible or to provide analysis. Some famous literary examples include:

1. “No Fear Shakespeare” Series: This popular series paraphrases Shakespeare’s original texts into modern English, making it easier for contemporary readers to understand.
2. “The Message” by Eugene Peterson: A paraphrased version of the Bible that translates the original scriptures into modern, everyday language.
3. “Odyssey” by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson: While not a paraphrase in the strictest sense, Wilson’s translation brings the epic into more accessible and contemporary English, functioning similarly to a paraphrase.
4. Charles and Mary Lamb’s “Tales from Shakespeare”: This is an early example of literary paraphrase, where the Lambs rewrote Shakespeare’s plays into narrative form for children.

Paraphrase in Children’s Books

Paraphrasing is a valuable tool in children’s literature to adapt complex stories or ideas for young readers. Famous examples include:

1. “The Children’s Homer” by Padraic Colum: A paraphrase of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” which simplifies the complex epic tales for children.
2. “Tales from Shakespeare” by Charles and Mary Lamb: As mentioned, this work paraphrases Shakespeare’s plays into prose narratives for young readers.
3. “Young Person’s Guide to Philosophy” by Jeremy Weate: This book simplifies philosophical concepts through paraphrased explanations suitable for children.
4. “Stories from the Bible” by Pearl S. Buck: A retelling of biblical stories in a language and style that children can understand.

Paraphrase in Poetry

Paraphrasing in poetry often serves to reinterpret or translate poems into more accessible language or different poetic forms. Famous examples include:

1. “Homage to the Lame Wolf” by Yusef Komunyakaa: Paraphrases and draws inspiration from Sufi poet Hafez.
2. “After Basho” by Sam Hamill: A modern paraphrase of the works of the famous haiku master Basho.
3. “Whoso List to Hunt” by Thomas Wyatt: Wyatt’s poem is believed to be a paraphrase of Petrarch’s Sonnet 190, adapting the original Italian sonnet into an English form.
4. Translations of Rumi by Coleman Barks: Barks’ renditions of Rumi’s poetry, while technically translations, often paraphrase the original Persian to resonate with modern sensibilities and emotional nuances.

These examples show how paraphrasing bridges time, language, and cultural gaps, making literature and poetry accessible and relevant to new audiences.

Paraphrase in Songs

Paraphrasing in songs often involves taking a well-known piece of poetry, literature, or another song and reinterpreting its lyrics to fit a new musical context. Here are ten famous examples:

1. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen: Various artists have paraphrased and covered this song, each adding their own lyrical twists.
2. “Watchtower” by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix as “All Along the Watchtower”: Hendrix’s version paraphrases Dylan’s original, changing some lyrics to fit his unique style.
3. “The Man Who Sold the World” by David Bowie, covered by Nirvana: Kurt Cobain’s interpretation adds a different emotional layer to the original lyrics.
4. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles: Allegedly paraphrases the imagery found in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
5. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince, famously covered by Sinéad O’Connor: O’Connor’s version alters some lyrics for a more personal touch.
6. “Respect” by Otis Redding, famously covered by Aretha Franklin: Franklin’s rendition changes the lyrics to reflect a female perspective.
7. “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton, covered by Whitney Houston: Houston’s version modifies some of the lyrics and the arrangement.
8. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Robert Hazard, made famous by Cyndi Lauper: Lauper’s cover adapts the original male perspective into a female empowerment anthem.
9. “Tainted Love” by Gloria Jones, covered by Soft Cell: Soft Cell’s version adds a synth-pop twist to the original soul song.
10. “Killing Me Softly With His Song” originally by Roberta Flack, famously covered by The Fugees: The Fugees’ version updates the lyrics and the musical style to suit a 90s audience.

Paraphrase in Movies

Movies often use paraphrasing to adapt dialogue or scenes from other films, books, or plays into their scripts. Here are some notable examples:

1. “Clueless” (1995): A modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma,” paraphrasing much of the plot and character elements into a 1990s Beverly Hills setting.
2. “West Side Story” (1961 and 2021 versions): Paraphrases Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” transferring the setting to mid-20th-century New York and involving rival street gangs.
3. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000): Loosely based on Homer’s “The Odyssey,” paraphrased into a Depression-era Southern U.S. adventure.
4. “Ten Things I Hate About You” (1999): Adapts Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” into a late 1990s American high school setting.
5. “Apocalypse Now” (1979): A paraphrase of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” set during the Vietnam War.

Famous movie line highlighting Paraphrase

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – This line from “Gone with the Wind” (1939) is a paraphrase of a similar sentiment expressed in the original novel.

YouTube Link of a Relevant Movie Clip Demonstrating Paraphrase

You can search for clips from “Clueless” to see how it paraphrases “Emma” by Jane Austen in a modern setting.

Paraphrase in Advertising

In advertising, paraphrasing is often used to adapt well-known phrases, slogans, or literary quotes to create a familiar yet fresh message. Examples include:

1. Apple: “Think different.” A paraphrase of IBM’s “Think.”
2. MasterCard: “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.” Paraphrases common sayings about the value of money and experiences.
3. L’Oréal: “Because you’re worth it.” Over the years, this slogan has been paraphrased and adapted in various ad campaigns to resonate with different audiences.

Paraphrase Related Literary Devices

Paraphrasing is closely related to several other literary devices:

1. Summary: Both summarize the original content but paraphrasing tends to maintain more of the original’s depth and detail.
2. Translation: Involves converting text from one language to another, often including paraphrase to adapt cultural references.
3. Interpretation: Both involve a degree of personal input, interpretation goes further in inferring deeper meanings.
4. Rewriting: Essentially a form of paraphrasing that may involve more drastic changes to the structure and style of the original text.
5. Adaptation: A broader form of paraphrasing that includes changing the format or medium (e.g., novel to film) while keeping the core themes and narratives intact.

These devices highlight the versatility and utility of paraphrasing in various forms of communication and artistic expression.