Sandra - you're quite right, I'm sure he was intending meaning #1. And on that meaning, it was irony. My bad.

However, neither "awesome alliteration" and "intentional irony" are examples of alliteration. Juniorsfarm gives the standard definition, involving consonants, so these two examples fail from that angle.

But alliteration (on my understanding) can ALSO refer to repetition of vowel sounds, if (OF COURSE) the vowel sounds are the same. Alas, in neither "awesome alliteration" or "intentional irony" in the initial vowel SOUND repeated. Merely starting with the same letter is not enough.

I'm confused. You mean you need to start with the same consonant and have a similiar vowel sound?? According to Junior's definition, it's just the beginning consonant that has to be the same such as Wild and Wooly or Threatening Throngs. Maybe I understood you wrong. I like the one Albert Brooks does in Broadcast News: "A lot of alliteration from anxious anchors placed in powerful posts.' Actually I love that whole movie. Gotta go put it in the favorite movie thread! I went off topic there didn't I?

Quoted from Maccalvr

I'm confused. You mean you need to start with the same consonant and have a similiar vowel sound?? According to Junior's definition, it's just the beginning consonant that has to be the same such as Wild and Wooly or Threatening Throngs. Maybe I understood you wrong. I like the one Albert Brooks does in Broadcast News: "A lot of alliteration from anxious anchors placed in powerful posts.' Actually I love that whole movie. Gotta go put it in the favorite movie thread! I went off topic there didn't I?

I think it just has to start with the same consonant, like when Spiro Agnew liked to refer to Democrats as "Nattering Nabobs of Negativism."

Quoted from juniorsfarm

Main Entry: al·lit·er·a·tion
Pronunciation: &-"li-t&-'rA-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: ad- + Latin littera letter
: the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (as wild and woolly, threatening throngs)

My mistake -- I think assonance would have fit a teeny tad better.  It feels like years since my ears have heard this stuff

Yeah, I did read it wrong. Poor reading comprehension late at night after having a few! Ugh! I see what you're saying now. Same Consonant and he used vowels. I found another definition that basically says you can used either, but consonants are most often used. Which would figure cuz what there's like 21 of 'em and only 4 of the other!! Anyawy, whish I could delete my stupid post but Junior quoted me!! Ah!


al·lit·er·a·tion (ə-lĭt'ə-râ'shən)
n.
The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables, as in “on scrolls of silver snowy sentences” (Hart Crane). Modern alliteration is predominantly consonantal; certain literary traditions, such as Old English verse, also alliterate using vowel sounds.

Quoted from Maccalvr

BTW, the 'intentional irony' is yet another example. He's very clever you know.

perhaps not textbook alliteration, but that was indeed the point

Quoted from Herecomesyoursun

perhaps not textbook alliteration, but that was indeed the point

Cleverly and craftily contrived--kudos!