AP LINGO Pt1

Colloquial

Language that is informal and conversational; a word or expression that is commonplace and well-known within a specific language

Slang

Informal words and phrases that are created among a small group of people or a specific subculture.

Jargon

Technical terms used by people within a specific profession or trade, many which would not make sense to people outside of that particular industry.

Diction

Word choice, particularly as an element of style.

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion or attitude. One word can have multiple denotations and definitions can change over time.

Connotation

The associations and emotions suggested by a word (which can be subjective and can change, depending on how a word is used and the experiences people associate with it). Implied meaning rather than literal meaning. It can be positive, negative, neutral, etc.

Exigence

What causes an author to write or a speaker to speak in the first place. Its the event, the sense of urgency, the problem that requires attention right now, the argument that must be refuted, the situation that has arisen that prompts someone to create a rhetorical message for an audience.