Language and Visual Techniques Senior Glossary

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key language and visual techniques from the senior english glossary.

Anecdote

A short story, usually serving to make the listeners laugh or ponder over a topic.

Ellipses

A punctuation mark consisting of three dots. Indicates a pause or omission.

Allusion

A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is intended to be noticed by readers (though isn’t always picked up on).

Alliteration

Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/phrases to create a sense of rhythm, though they can be overdone (as in tongue twisters).

Juxtaposition

Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one another, sometimes even in immediate succession.

Assonance

Similar to alliteration, however in this case it is vowel sounds that are repeated.

Cliche

A common and/or overused expression, often found in similes and metaphors.

Connotations

The ideas, feelings or concepts associated with specific words, phrases or situations that go beyond their literal meaning.

Dramatic Irony

Any situation wherein the audience is privy to some sort of information that the characters do not know, building audience tension, suspense, etc.

Emotive Language

Words chosen to create a specific emotional response in the reader, often linked to the word’s connotations and commonly used in highly emotional or descriptive scenes/situations.

Euphemism

A mild or ‘proper’ expression used to replace one that is harsh, blunt or otherwise offensive in order to not cause trouble or appear vulgar.

Foreshadow

The act of hinting at or setting up a situation, event or action that will later be extremely important in the narrative but doesn’t seem important at the time.

Hyperbole

The purposeful over-exaggeration of a statement in order to create a more intense or over-the-top effect.

Pun

A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.

Repetition

Using the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece of writing or speech. Writers of all kinds use repetition, but it is particularly popular in oration and spoken word, where a listener's attention might be more limited.

Imagery

Words used to create an idea or mental image of something, most often found in descriptions or created through descriptive language.

Antithesis

Placing one character, idea, theme, object, setting, etc. parallel to another in order to compare and contrast the two.

Irony

A disconnect between what is said and what is meant, usually with the words said having a second insulting, humorous or satirical meaning.

Metaphor

Comparing two things by saying that one ‘is’ the other in order to draw stronger comparisons and often add a level of figurative meaning.

Onomatopoeia

A word that it the ‘sound’ of what it represents, allowing the reader to ‘hear’ what is occurring.

Oxymoron

Two contradictory words or concepts used together to create a strange or complex thing/idea that still makes sense.

Personification

The attributing of human characteristics to non-human objects, by which inanimate objects appear to have life and/or feelings.

Satire

The use of irony, humour, exaggeration or ridicule to expose or criticise people's stupidity often in a political context.

Simile

Comparing two objects, and object and a person, etc. using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to draw parallels between them.

Language Symbolism

When an object, person, etc. represents a more complex idea, concept or theme.

Tone

The tone in a story indicates a particular feeling. It can be joyful, serious, humorous, sad, threatening, formal, informal, pessimistic, or optimistic.

Body language

Facial expressions, gestures, stance or position – can convey the attitude, feelings or personality of the individual shown.

Gaze

The direction of the subject’s eyes. Demand: Eye contact with the viewer draws audience’s attention to the subject. Offer: Eye line is directed at another object (not the viewer) to highlight its importance.

Composition

What is included is deliberately placed (also applies to what is omitted). Consider all inclusions and omissions e.g. surroundings, objects, clothing etc.

Colour, Hue and Tone

In black & white images examine the use of contrast, light and darkness. In a colour image, colours are used to signify feelings and evoke a response. E.g. Red = passion, anger, hell, vitality, etc. blue = peace, harmony or coldness.

Contrast

The arrangement of opposite elements (light and dark, large and small, rough and smooth) to create interest, excitement or drama.

Framing

The same camera shots and angles relevant to film. Close ups, extreme close ups, medium shots, long shots, tilted up or down shots etc.

Omissions

What has been deliberately left out.

Orientation, Point of view

Relates to framing and angle: is the responder positioned above the image (looking down), below or at eye level?

Positioning

Consider which objects have been placed in the foreground, middle ground or background.

Rule of thirds

Divide an image into thirds from the top and sides and look at the placement of people and/or objects. An object in the top third is usually empowered whereas anything in the bottom third is disempowered.

Salience

The part that your eyes are first drawn to in the visual. Colour, image and layout determine what the salient image is.

Visual Symbolism

The use of an image to represent one or more (often complex) ideas.

Vectors

The line that our eyes take when looking at a visual. Composers deliberately direct our reading path through the vectors. E.g. If all of the subjects are tall, long and upright our eyes follow straight vectors that lead to the top of the frame. This could make the subject seem powerful or inflexible.