Lang terms test - language devices and figurative language

diction

word choice

archaic language

using language that is antiquated (old-fashioned)

Beliefs for which our forebears fought

alliteration

use of words with same consonant sound close together

Peter Piper Picked Peppers

colloquialism

using language that reflects the way people actually speak (slang)
“Y’all” “hang out” “chill out” “gonna or wanna” - instead of “going to” or “want to”

connotation

the implied or contextualized meaning that underlies the main meaning of a word - the feeling or impression given from a word

“home” - positive connotation sense of comfort “inexpensive” - pos or neutral connotation suggesting affordability

denotation

the literal, dictionary definition of a word

ellipsis

omitting some parts of a sentence to give the reader a chance to fill the gaps (dot dot dot - …)

omitting words: “to be, or not to be… that is the question”

showing hesitation: “well…i’m not really sure.”

suspense: “and the winner is…”

jargon

using language that is specific to a place, period, position, or occupation

medical - "hypertension” - high blood pressure

technology - “reboot” - restarting a computer or device

repetition

just as it sounds, in order to emphasize or reiterate

cumulative sentence

sentence where main clause is at the beginning and then more is added on

but neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war.

hortative sentence

sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action -purpose to encourage people to do something together often using “let’s” or “let us”

let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us

imperative sentence

sentence that commands or demands - purpose to tell someone to do or not do something simply commanding or instructing not meant to be done in unity

my fellow citizens of the world; ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man

periodic sentence

sentence where main clause is withheld until the end

to that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in a new age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support…

anaphora

repetition of words/phrases at beginning of successive phrases, clauses, lines - repetition at the beginning

…not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need—not as a call for battle, though embattled we are…

antimetabole/chiasmus

repetition of words in reverse order

[A]sk not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

antithesis

opposition or contrast of ideas/words in a parallel construction - opposite ideas placed in a balanced structure - focuses on opposing ideas usually involving words or statements often using parallel structure

[W]e shall…support any friend, oppose any foe…

asyndeton

omission (absence) of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, words (speeds up)

he eats, drinks, sleeps

inversion

inverted word order in a sentence (variation on subject-verb order)

never have I seen such a beautiful sunset

juxtaposition

placements of two things closely together to emphasize differences - contrasting things placed together that focuses on comparison and not requiring parallel structure

[W]e are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century… - places new and old generations to highlight the differences between them

parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, clauses

let both sides explore…let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals…let both sides seek to invoke…let both sides unite to heed…

syndeton

addition of multiple conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, words (slows down)

he eats and drinks and sleeps

alliteration

repetition of the same sound beginning several words or syllables in sequence

let us go forth to lead the land we love…

allusion

reference to another source(e.g. Bible, mythology, poem, work of art)

let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah…

anecdote

a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident used to explain, illustrate, or persuade

antecedent

a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another; what pronouns refer to - the word that comes before the pronoun and tells you who or what the pronoun is talking about

“Sarah loves reading because she finds it relaxing” - Antecedent: Sarah, Pronoun: She

assonance

repeating vowel sounds

“the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain”

consonance

repetition of identical or similar consonants in neighboring words - repeating consonant sounds

“the black rock”

epithet

a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in the place of the name; a disparaging or abusive word or phrase

• descriptive word that tells you something about someone or something

“Alexander the Great” “The Mighty Lion”

euphemism

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend

“Passed away" - rather than died

“Let go” - instead of saying “fired from a job”

extended metaphor

a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences - a comparison that continues for a long time

“Life is a journey. Sometimes we take the wrong road, encounter obstacles, climb different hills, and eventually reach our destination.” - comparison between life and a journey continues throughout passagess

hyperbole

deliberate exaggeration

“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” “I’ve told you a million times!”

imagery

descriptive language appealing to all five senses (words used to paint a picture)

“the delicious chocolate melted smoothly on my tongue”

maxim

a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct

• If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all

• Actions speak louder than words

• treat others how you want to be treated

metaphor

comparison that replaces one object for another (stronger than simile)

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion…

• “time is money” - comparison bc both are valuable

• “she is a shining star” - describing

metonymy

the substitution of the name for an attribute of the thing meant - replacing the name of something with another word closely connected to it

“suit” for “business executive”

“the track” for “horse racing”

“the crown” refers to royalty - king, queen, monarchy

“the press is covering the event” - the press = journalists and news organizations

motif

repeating symbol throughout a text - something that repeatedly appears in a story and has a deeper meaning

doves in a story - representing peace

darkness throughout a novel - representing fear, evil, or uncertainty

clocks and time - representing aging, mortality, or the passage of time

oxymoron

using two contradictory words next to each other - giant shrimp

peaceful revolution

“deafening silence”

"living dead”

paradox

a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true - something that seems impossible or contradictory but makes sense when you think about it

“less is more”

“I must be cruel to be kind” - sometimes doing something the hurts someone temporarily can help them in the long run

personification

describing an inanimate object as if it were a person

with history the final judge of our deeds - history is given the human characteristic of being a judge

rhetorical question

posing a question for effect rather than to get an answer

will you join in that historic effort?

simile

comparison that uses “like” or “as”

symbol

object used to represent an idea/theme

synecdoche

using one part to represent a whole

Nice wheels! (wheels = car)

Boston sweeps the series against the Yankees! (Boston = the baseball team)

Whats the difference between metonymy and synecdoche?

Metonymy tends to rely more on metaphor and symbolism, while synecdoche tends to rely more on physical descriptions.

tone

author’s attitude toward a subject and/or character

zeugma

using two different meanings or the same word within a sentence/line

when we bear arms, we bear a burden of responsibility (bear used literally and figuratively)

“he lost his coat and his temper” “she broke his car and his heart”