Learn English – it called when someone presents two choices which are the same to emphasize the importance of the option

figures-of-speechsingle-word-requests

I'm very curious to know if there is a name, a word, or a literary scheme/figure of speech/literary device for when in a conversation, you present two choices which are the same, in which the speaker would just want to emphasize the importance/gravity of the option.

For example:

  • Two friends walk out of their air-conditioned cars, alighting onto the crack-filled asphalted road in the middle of nowhere.

    Friend one: Is it hot out here or is it hot out here?

I was wondering if figures of speech can go this specific, and if so, I'd be glad to know some new things other than gobbledygook.

P.S. It would be a noun, so I would be using it accordingly.

Best Answer

The form “x or y” (where x and y are possible statements or actions) is called a dilemma.

When other options are (deliberately) omitted (implying that the mentioned two are the only realistic options), it is called a false dilemma, which is a type of informal fallacy.

When x and y are the same (implying that only twice-mentioned option is the only realistic option), the form becomes “x or x”. I suppose that one could call this an isodilemma.

I admit to making this term up, but I believe it fits.

And I agree that the literary device is common enough that it deserves a fancy name.

(I also considered, but dismissed, *a monolemma.)