IB English Lang/Lit HL Useful Terminology: Visual and Written Texts, IB Visual Texts

asyndeton

listing using commas

denotation

actual meaning of a word

dysphemism

a harsher way of communicating an idea, e.g. using taboo terms

epistemic modal verb

express degrees of probability, possibility, or certainty e.g. will, shall

euphemism

a politer, more socially acceptable way of saying something e.g. passed away

imperative

a command

inclusive pronoun

'we' 'us'

marked/unmarked forms

where words/phrases have evidence of a gender e.g. policeWOMAN

metonymy

when one whole thing (not a part) represents something closely associated with it; for example, ' the crown' representing the king

pastiche

imitation of another form

semantics

meaning behind words in a text

synecdoche

a part used to represent the whole, e.g. 'the eyes' to represent the audience

double entendre

a word or phrase open to two interpretations

declarative

a statement

determinism

the belief that language determines how we think

dialect

words or phrases particular to a geographic place

ethnocentrism

centred on a particular ethnicity

exclamatory sentence

a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark

ideology

inherent beliefs in a text

idioms

expression e.g. sweating buckets

intertextuality

references to other texts

linguistic convergence

where a speaker adapts their speech to be more similar to the listener

linguistic divergence

where a speaker adapts their speech to differ from that of the listener

pathos

evocation of pity, sadness

superlatives

of the highest degree, usually ending in -st

synthetic personalisation

where readers are treated as individuals

Periodic sentences

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

loose sentences/non-periodic sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

declarative sentence

a sentence that makes a statement

imperative sentence

sentence used to command, enjoin, implore, or entreat

body language

Communication of information through body positions and gestures.

Juxtaposition

How are people and/or objects positioned in relation to each other? What do these positions suggest? Are things put close to each other to emphasize a comparison?

Omission

Someone or something that has been left out or excluded. What does this suggest?

Symbolism

A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. How does this relate to the other elements of the visual text?

Recontextualization

a postmodern practice in which the meaning of an image or object is changed by the context in which it is placed.

redact

To adapt written material to serve an author's purpose (usually refers to removal of parts).