AP Lang Diction Terms

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the 41 diction terms and their definitions as presented in the lecture notes.

Jargon

Specialized language; meaningful to a particular group/profession; unnecessarily specific

Vulgar

In bad taste, indecent, lewd

Scholarly

Educated, bookish, intelligent

Insipid

Dull without flavor, uncreative, lacking interest

Precise

Exact, accurate, strict; clearly expressed

Esoteric

Difficult to understand, due to specialized language/knowledge, *jargon

Connotative

Implicit; beyond the literal meaning

Plain

Simple, not complicated

Literal

Restricted to the facts; not exaggerated

Colloquial

Informal, common; *slang, *idiomatic

Artificial

Pretended, fake, robotic

Detached

Aloof, disinterested, unbiased

Didactic

Preachy, condescending, morally instructive

Shocking

Causing surprise/disgust

Pedantic

Overly concerned with formality and details, educated language

Euphemistic

Substitution of harsh expressions with milder language

Pretentious

Exaggerated or affected self-importance

Sensuous

Filled with imagery (aimed at the senses), sexual

Exact

Accurate, *precise

Learned

*scholarly, experienced, knowledgeable

Symbolic

Uses concrete to represent abstract ideas

Simple

*plain, uncomplicated and lacking expertise

Figurative

Uses figurative of speech, not literal

Bombastic

Overblown, *pretentious, lacks substance

Abstruse

Hard to understand; *esoteric *jargon; *idiomatic

Grotesque

Distorted, extreme, departing from the natural or typical

Sharp

Clear, *precise, exact

Sentimental

Showing feeling (love, pity, nostalgia) rather than reason or thought

Poetic

Beautiful, descriptive, figurative-for emotional impact

Moralistic

Imposition of personal beliefs; *didactic

Slang

Informal or non-standard; *colloquial

Idiomatic

Particular to a specific region or group; *colloquial, *slang

Concrete

Actual, specific, *literal

Cultured

Experienced, educated; refined

Picturesque

Visually charming, quaint, idealized

Homespun

Homely, unpolished

Provincial

Lacking urban knowledge; unsophisticated

Trite

Stale, not original

Obscure

Vague, cryptic, ambiguous

Objective

Without bias; based in reality

Observant

Awareness of details