Lang Terms pt. 2

21-40

Epithet

A descriptive label added to someone/something.

Example: “Swift-footed Achilles.”

Euphemism

A mild/indirect phrase replacing something harsh or unpleasant.

Example: “He passed away” instead of “He died.”

Inversion

Reversing normal word order for emphasis.

Example: “Strong you are,” instead of “You are strong.”

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting things side-by-side to highlight differences.

Example: A paragraph pairing wealth and poverty descriptions.

Litotes

Understatement using a negative to express a positive.

Example: “Not bad” meaning good.

Local Color

Details that characterize a specific place—dialect, customs, scenery.

Example: Describing Louisiana swamp accents, foods, and festivals.

Metonymy

Replacing the name of something with something closely associated with it.

Example: “The White House announced…” (meaning the president/administration).

Paradox

A self-contradictory statement that reveals a truth.

Example: “I must be cruel to be kind.”

Parallel Structure

Using the same grammatical pattern in a series.

Example: “She came, she saw, she conquered.”

Periphrasis

Using a longer, roundabout expression instead of a short one.

Example: “The father of my father” instead of “grandfather.”

Polysyndeton

Using many conjunctions intentionally.

Example: “We ran and laughed and jumped and played.”

Rhetoric

The art of effective persuasion through language.

Example: Using ethos/pathos/logos in an argument.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not to get an answer.

Example: “Who wouldn’t want more free time?”

Satire

Humor/irony used to criticize human flaws or society.

Example: The Onion articles mocking politics.

Style

The author’s specific way of using language (diction, syntax, tone).

Example: Ernest Hemingway’s short, blunt sentences.

Synecdoche

A part represents the whole, or the whole represents a part.

Example: “All hands on deck” (hands = sailors).

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject.

Example: Sarcastic, mournful, hopeful, formal.

Understatement

Making something seem smaller or less important than it is.

Example: After scoring the winning goal: “I did okay.”

Vernacular

Everyday language/dialect spoken by people in a region.

Example: “Y’all” in the American South.y.”

Zeugma

One word governs two different words/phrases, often with a humorous or striking effect.

Example: “She broke his car and his heart.”