Igama elithi "gradational" liyisichasiso esichaza into ethile ebonakala noma ebandakanya uchungechunge lwezinguquko ezihamba kancane, ezilandelanayo noma izinguquko. Ingabhekisela kunqubo yoshintsho ngokwayo noma isici sento eshintshwayo.Isibonelo, "izwe libonise ukushintsha kancane kancane ukusuka endaweni enamadwala ukuya ehlathini eliluhlaza" noma "iciko liqashe uhlelo lombala ukudala umuzwa wokujula emdwebeni."