Ap Lang diction

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 Y 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) 

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