Language techniques

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Simile

a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as"

Personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

Anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object

Alliteration

When two following words make the same sound

Zoomorphism

a literary device where a human, god, or an inanimate object is given animal-like qualities.

Chremamorphism

a literary device where a human is given the characteristics of an inanimate object

Symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

Pathetic fallacy

the attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals, especially in art and literature.

Alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Sibilance

the repetition of ‘s’ sounds in a group of words

Assonance

resemblance of sound of vowels

Consonance

resemblance of sound of consonants

Onomatopoeia

he formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named

Pun

a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.

Oxymoron

a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Litotes

the use of a negative statement in order to emphasize a positive meaning

Synecdoche

literary device in which a part of something is substituted for the whole

Lexical field

a group of words that are related by meaning and share a common theme or subject

Allusion

a figure of speech that makes a reference to someone or something by name