AP Lang Diction Test

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

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

High, formal, and sophisticated and erudite diction

elevated and elaborate; it follows the rules of syntax exactly and avoids idioms, colloquialisms, and slang

Low or informal diction

the language of everyday use; it is relaxed and conversational

Concrete diction

describes conditions or qualities that are exact and particular

Abstract diction

refers to qualities that are rarefied and theoretical

Technical language and jargon

use a specialized vocabulary of a particular trade or profession

Bureaucratese

uses sheer volume of words or complicated syntax to overwhelm the audience

Inflated diction

makes the ordinary seem extraordinary, such as calling car mechanics "automotive internists"

Doublespeak

pretends to communicate but really does not; it always sounds good but means nothing

Spin

designed to create either a favorable or unfavorable picture of an issue, regardless of what the objective reality of that issue is