Diction Flashcards

Diction

Word choice or general character of the language used by the author

What are the three levels words have?

1) Appearance 2) Sound 3) Meaning

Mono Diction

One syllable

Poly Diction

Multiple syllables

Euphonious

Pleasant sounding

Cacophonous

Harsh sounding

Literal Diction

Accurate language

Figurative Diction

Pictorial effect

Denotative

Literal meaning

Connotative

Emotions and associations connected to a word

Objective language

Impersonal and unemotional language

Subjective language

Personal and emotional language

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration of facts

Understated

Deliberate misrepresentation of facts

Pedestrian

Rough talk or casual language

Pedantic

Overly sophisticated language

Vulgarity

Language that is deficient in taste and refinement

Colloquial

Regional, informal language

Jargon

Language specific to a field or position

Slang

An informal vocabulary composed of invented words, arbitrarily changed words, or extravagant figures of speech

Cliché

Figurative language that has lost its freshness and clarity; overused phrase

Informal Diction

Language that is correct but conversational; used in casual situations, but still uses accurate facts

Formal Diction

The language that is appropriate in more formal occasions

Archaic Diction

Outdated, old-fashioned, or "ancient" diction

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase