ABSTRACT
The figures of the plane of expression involve sounds, order of constituents, and rhythm. This chapter describes the figures of the plane of expression as forms of valorization of the acoustic substance of linguistic sounds, of the optional dispositions of constituents, and of the rhythm of the utterance based on the distribution of pauses and stress. The most apparent feature of figures of sound is that they are not necessarily figures in the full, etymological sense of displaying a recurrent, identifiable shape certified by a name. The main function of the changing linear order of constituents in a sentence is to shape its communicative perspective in interaction with rhythm and, in particular, with stress. Verse is a form of valorization of the natural rhythm of speech and of its constitutive factors that is, pauses and stress. The function of pauses is to divide up the stream of speech into discrete rhythmic segments that hold as communicative units.
