AP English Language Glossary

Rhetoric

The study of how language is used in speaking and writing

Rhetorical devices

A rhetorical device is a use of language that is intended to have an effect on its audience. Repetition, figurative language, even rhetorical questions are rhetorical devices

Rhetorical triangles

The relationships, in any piece of writing, between the writer, the audience, and the purpose subject.

Exigence

In rhetoric, exigence is an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts an author to write or speak.

Deductive reasoning

An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion. In a deductive argument, the premises are intended to provide support for the conclusion that is so strong that, if the premises are true, it would be impossible for the conclusion to be false. It is organized from the general to the specific.

Inductive reasoning

An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion. In an inductive argument, the premises are intended only to be so strong that, if they are true, then it is unlikely that the conclusion is false. It is organized from specific to the general

Demolition

Literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations. The dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation

The associations suggested by a word, implied meaning rather than literal meaning

Jargon

The diction used by a specific group that practices a similar profession or activity.

Vernacular

Language or dialect of a particular country. Language or dialect of a region or group. Plain everyday speech.

Colloquial

Ordinary or familiar type of conversation, similar to an adage or saying.

Mood

Emotional tone or atmosphere of a work of literature

Tone

A writers attitude towards his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language or organization

Ethos

Credibility. Means being convinced by the credibility of the author. In an appeal to ethos, a writer tries to convince the audience that he or she is worth being listened to, being liked, or worthy of respect.

Pathos

Emotional. Means of persuading by appeal to the reader’s emotions

Logos

Logical. Means of persuading by use of reasoning, using true premises and valid arguments. Considered the strongest form of appeal/persuasion

Kairos

Refers to the effective use of timing, aka timeliness

Hypophoric questions

A question is posed by the author and immediately answered

Allusion

Indirect reference to something with which the author expects the reader to be familiar (books, plays, texts, etc)

Anecdote

A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Of the inserted to develop a point or inject humor

Metonymy

Replacing an actual word or idea with a related word or concept. “Relations between London and Washington are strained” means the leaders of the us and England, not the cities themselves. Often used in body parts - “I could not understand his tongue”

Synecdoche

A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts or vice versa. “Check out my new wheels”

Litote

A certain kind of understatement, generated by denying the opposite of the statement which otherwise would be used. Depending on the situation and context/tone, litotes can be understatement (hitting that telephone pole certainly didn’t do your car any good). Double negative » positive comment

Antecedent

The word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun (it, they, his, her, etc)

Tricolon

A rhetorical term that consists of 3 parallel clauses, phrases, or words, which happen to come in quick succession without any interruption.

Tetracolon

A rhetorical term for a series of 4 words, phrases, or clauses, usually in parallel structure

Balanced sentence

Made up of two pets that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure

Antimetabole

When the words in a pattern are used twice in succession, but the second time the order of the words is reversed (fair is foul and foul is fair). Also called chiasmus

Anadiplosis

Figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or term in one sentence or phrase is repeated at the beginning of the next sentence. (Funk is my business, and business is good)

Synchises

An alternating word sequence with a balanced pair of phrases in which the order of the first pair is repeated in the second pair. Or can refer to the confused arrangement of words in a sentence, often by separating modifiers from their subjects (any nation so conceived and so dedicated OR she danced and sang, swift and loud)

Tautology

A phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words. (I am joyful and ecstatic about your awards and accolades)

Anaphora

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. Deliberate form of repetition that helps make the writers point more coherent

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the end of two or more sentences. Asp deliberate repetition

Polysyndeton

When a Writer creates a list of items all separated by conjunctions, rather than the normal way where conjunctions are used only before the last item. Used to slow down pace of writing and/or add an authoritative tone (walked the dog and fed the cat and milked the cow)

Zeugma (syllepsis)

When a single word governs or modifies two or more words and the the meaning of the first word must change for each of the other words it governs and modifies (the butler killed the lights and then the lady)

Rhetorical fallacies

A fallacy is an attractive but unreliable piece of reading. Writers do not want to make obvious fallacies but they are often used unintentionally or when writers think they can get away with faulty logic.

Ad hominem

Latin for “against the man” it means personally attacking your opponents instead of their arguments. It is an argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason

Non sequitur

A conclusion that does not follow its premises, an invalid argument. (Hinduism is one of the world’s largest religions and also one of the oldest. It helps people lead happier lives so the principles of Hinduism must be true)