Rhetorical Terminology

Word choice, general character of the language used by the author:

Diction

Words have how many levels to them?

3

Words are selected based on their efficiency in what areas?

Appearance, sound, and meaning

What is taken into consideration when choosing a word based on its meaning?

Who uses the word and where and why is the word used

Levels of articulation/diction:

Non-standard, informal / standard, formal (literate)

Characteristic of non-standard language:

Deficient in some form or manner

Examples of Non-standard Language:

Vulgarity, slang, colloquial, jargon, cliché

Characteristics of vulgar diction:

Coarse, base, lacks refinement

Vernacular language used for humor or exaggeration:

Slang

Examples of slang:

Chick, dude

What is colloquial diction?

Regional language

What does colloquial diction differ in?

Usage, connotation, and pronunciation

Example of colloquial diction:

You all = y’all

Specific language for a field/profession:

Jargon

Examples of jargon:

Chip, byte, CPU = computer field

Figurative language used so often that it has lost its freshness and clarity:

Cliché

What are these examples of: “bigger and better,” “loomed on the horizon,” “jumped for joy,” quick as a flash,” “toots his own horn”

Cliché

Language grammatically correct, but conversational:

Informal / standard diction

Language appropriate for more formal occasions, often more abstract:

Formal / literate diction

Types of diction:

Euphonious vs cacophonous, literal vs figurative (cliché), denotative vs connotative, objective vs subjective, active vs passive, concrete vs abstract, hyperbole (overstated) vs understated, pedestrian vs pedantic

Euphonious diction:

Pleasant sounding

Example of euphonious diction:

Pillow

Cacophonous diction:

Harsh sounding

Example of cacophonous diction:

Awkward

Literal diction:

Accurate language without embellishment

Figurative (cliché) diction:

Comparative language for a pictorial effect

Example of literal vs figurative diction:

Frugal vs tight as bark on a tree

Denotative diction:

Language with exact meaning

Connotative diction:

Language with suggested emotional meaning

Does connotative diction have positive or negative effects?

Both

Examples of denotative vs connotative diction:

Dress, obese vs gown, plump

Impersonal, unemotional, and unbiased language:

Objective diction

Language that is personal, has emotion (pathos), and bias:

Subjective diction

What does active diction do?

States action

Example of active diction:

The students made progress

What does passive diction do?

States being

Example of passive diction:

Progress was made by the students

When is passive diction used?

When the author wants to remain vague or to conceal information

Language is specific; tangible (things, facts):

Concrete diction

Examples of concrete diction:

Girl, flag

Language that is conceptual, philosophical (ideas):

Abstract diction

Examples of abstract diction:

Beauty, patriotism

Language deliberate at misrepresenting as more:

Hyperbole

Example of hypoerbole:

“The shot heard ‘round the world”

Language has a deliberate misrepresenting as less:

Understated diction

Example of understated diction:

“I was only doing my job”

Language of the common layman:

Pedestrian diction

Example of pedestrian diction:

Cool

Language inflated to display importance:

Pedantic

Examples of pedantic diction:

Urbane or suave

Devices of sound:

Assonance, consonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia

Repetition of similar vowel sound in closely associated words:

Assonance

What is assonance also called?

Full rhyme

Example of assonance:

No pain, no gain

Repetition of similar consonant sound in closely associated words:

Consonance

What is consonance also called?

Half rhyme

What is this an example of: Each slow dusk is a drawing down of blinds

Consonance