Diction Terms

connotation

an idea or feeling a word invokes

Positive: connects readers through emotions

Negative: create too strong of an emotion

denotation

the literal meaning of a word

Positive: reader understands the meaning of the word

Negative: lacks emotional connection

concrete diction

the use of words for their literal meanings and often refer to things that appeal to the senses

Positive: senses connect reader and text

Negative: hard for reader's to imagine senses

abstract diction

words that express intangible ideas or concepts

Positive: conveys ideas and emotions that have universal resonance

Negative: lack physical detail

general diction

refers to broad areas; choice of words based on audience and context

Positive: makes text more relatable

Negative: some people might not relate to it

specific diction

the speaker or writer's style of expression

Positive: expresses writer's thoughts and expression

Negative: makes texts less relatable

idioms

words or phrases that aren't meant to be taken literally

Positive: make text more humorous; lesson the (-) connotation

Negative: confusing to understand the actual meaning

colloquial language

used for casual, informal communication

Positive: adds authenticity, uses simpler language

Negative: text can seem less formal and serious

slang

words/phrases that are informal and seen in speech, not writing

Positive: makes text more relaxed

Negative: can be outdated, narrows audience, can't be used in formal situation

dialect/regional language

language spoken in a region

Positive: connects with a region's culture

Negative: text doesn't connect with everyone

biased language

contains excluding, offensive, and hurtful words or phrases

Positive: know where the author is coming from

Negative: may offend a group of people

euphemisms

mild or indirect word substituted for one considered too harsh

Positive: soften the impact of uncomfortable subjects

Negative: can mess up the true meaning, insincere

double speak

the deliberate misuse of language to distort meaning

Positive: ability to communicate uncomfortable topics; bad ideas seem like good ideas

Negative: makes text more confusing

technical language/jargon

specific terminology in a field

Positive: makes text more specific

Negative: more confusing for some people

pretentious language

uses language to appear more impressive than necessary

Positive: enhance a text's intellectual depth

Negative: too complex, hiding the meaning, seem snotty

archaic language

come out as pretentious, not commonly used (past slang)

Positive: create historical feeling

Negative: text may not be understood

neologisms

new word or expression. EX: emojis

Positive: make text more modern

Negative: not everyone knows what it means

cliches

overused expressions

Positive: most people understand the expression

Negative: makes text boring and unoriginal