variatio

Variatio is a term used in rhetoric and music to denote a deliberate alteration of a recurring unit. In Latin it means variation or alteration, from varius. In rhetoric, variatio is a figure of repetition that restates a theme or proposition in successive clauses or phrases with changes in wording, order, or imagery, preserving core sense while varying expression. It serves to reinforce an argument, renew attention, and showcase linguistic flexibility. Variatio can take the form of substituting synonyms, shifting syntactic structure, or adapting the imagery while keeping the point intact.

In classical sources, variatio is discussed as part of figures of repetition or amplification; later rhetorical manuals treat it as a technique to develop a theme across sentences or sections, often in sermons, orations, or poetry.

In music, variatio refers to a variation form in which a theme is stated and then repeated with alterations in melody, rhythm, harmony, or instrumentation. From the Baroque through the Romantic era, composers used sets of variations to explore a given musical idea, sometimes labeled as Variations on a Theme, with variations progressively increasing complexity or altering tonal color.

In modern usage, variatio may describe analogous processes in literary analysis, translation studies, or pedagogy, where a base statement or text is explored through controlled alterations to examine meaning, style, or interpretation.