Language Terminology

Sematic field

A group of words that belong to a shared area of meaning. For example, the words “needle”, “antibiotic” and “nurse”, can be linked within the sematic field of medicine.

Analogy

A comparison of two things which have some element of similarity. The similarity is often used to help clarify an idea or issue.

Lexical Cohesion

The linking between parts of a text to obtain a cohesive unity of structure.

Omniscient Narrator

The omniscient narrator is an ‘all-knowing’, ‘voice of god’ that has a greater insight into narrative events, context, and the character’s motivation, emotions, unspoken thoughts, and individual experiences.

Syntactic structure

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences (the way sentences are worded)

Context

The circumstances surrounding language that shapes its meaning

Emotive Language

The language that is used with the purpose of making the reader respond emotionally. for example, strong words such as ‘heavenly’ evoke feelings of peace and joy.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis. This figurative language feature is used to intensify the readers perception.

Adjectives

Words that describe or modify a noun or pronoun. For example “the gigantic seal”

Intrusive narrator

A narrator who interrupts the story in order to provide a commentary to the reader on some aspect of a character or the story. As a consequence, the narrator takes away from the realistic illusion and reduced the emotional intensity of what is being told by focusing on the act on narrating.

Tricolon

The use of three words/phrases in succession, with all three constructed in the same pattern. They are parallel in structure, length and or rythm, and they are used to create emphasis in a memorable way. For example, “Be sincere, be brief,be seated.”

Minor sentence

a kind of sentence that is missing a main verb or subject, often used to create a conversational effect, create drama, and emphasise a point. For example, “I needed help. Fast.”

Purpose

The writers reason for writing. wether it be to persuade, argue, inform, explain, instruct, entertain, or express.

Allusion

An implied and indirect purposeful reference to another person, event, place, biblical text, or work of literature.

Lexis

The writers choice of vocabulary

Rhetorical questions

A rhetoric device, a question with a purpose of making or emphasising a point, rather than a seeking an answer. This technique is often used in persuasive language pieces.

Synonymous

A word that has the same, or similar meaning to another word.

Juxtaposition

Placing one object with another in order to formulate a contrast between the two.

Imperative

Language used to create commands and give demands.

Idiomatic

A figurative phrase demonstrating the speakers distinctive and personalised use of language. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs”

Anaphora

The repetition of words or phrases in a group of sentences, clauses, or lines, creating a rhythmic and artistic effect while emphasising a point, appealing to the readers emotions. For example, “It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach, and it rained all over the place.”

Cliché

An expression or idea that has become so overused that it’s lost its original meaning and effectiveness, even to the point of being trite or irritating. For example, “you win some, you lose some.”

Archaic Language

Words that belong to an earlier period and are no longer commonly used. For example, “thus”, “ought”, and “hereinafter”, etc…

Biography

A text about a single persons life, work, and relationships, not written by the subject of the book.

First person narrative

When the piece of text is narrated by one person/character at a time. This character may be explaining their emotions, thoughts, and experiences to the reader directly.

Simple sentences

A sentence composed of a subject and a verb (one independent clause). For example, “my friend gave me a life.”

Cataphoric reference

Where a word refers to a later part of a text for its meaning. For example, “although I had not seen her in years, I recognised my old friend Sarah immediately.”

Genre

A subdivision of textual form determined by the text’s context. For example, fantasy novels, news article, ballad, online review, etc…

Anaphoric reference

Where a word refers to the earlier part of a text for its meaning. For example, “I recognised David immediately, even though I had not seen him, my oldest friend, in years.”

Declarative sentences

A sentence that makes statements and ends with periods. For example, ‘I took my dog for a walk’.

Structure

The way a text is ordered and organised.

Simile

A figure of speech which makes a comparison between two different things which one point of likeness, using words such as “like” or “as”. For example, “She was fast as lightning”.

Repetition

When a single word or phrases is used multiple tomes in succession for effect, helping to emphasises a point.

Adverb

A words that describes a verb.

Objective

A tone or point of view that is neutral.

First person narrative

Where a character in a story narrates the events they are experiencing recognised by the use of “I”, “we”, “us” and “our”.

Third person narrative

Where the narrator of a story is not directly related to the events being narrated, and typically used third person pronouns (he,she,they) to refer to the characters involved.

Genre classification

The purpose of grouping objects together based on defined similarities, such as style, format, subject, or purpose.

Connotation

The range of associated meanings brought to mind by a particular word beyond its essential meaning.

Pronouns

A type of word that replaces a noun (he,she,it,they,our, and more…)

Anecdote

A brief account of a real-life incident, often narrated to support a point previously made and have an impact on the readers or listeners.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words in succession, whose purpose in to provide an audible pulse that gives a piece of writing a lyrical and/or emotive effect.

Complex sentences

A sentence containing at least one independent clause and one dependent clause. For example, “She will go to school in the city, until she finds a job.”

Symbolism

A figurative language feature where an image, object, idea, or symbol is used to represent something other than its literal meaning.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two ideas side by side in order to highlight their differences.

Imperative

Sentences that give commands / make requests that ends with an exclamation point or period.

Discourse markers

Words or phrases which mark boundaries between one topic and another, where a writer of speaker wishes to change the subject.