Rhet quiz 1-100

AcronymA word formed from the initial letters of two or more successive words (e.g. UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Active voiceWhere the subject of a verb is performing the action involved (e.g. She won the race).

AdjectiveA word that modifies a noun

AdjunctAn optional or less-important part of a clause or sentence (e.g. on the floor in the sentence I dropped the glass on the floor).

AdverbA word that modifies a verb

AlliterationThe repetition of the same letter or sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely related words

AllusionReference to another text, often indirectly

AnalogyA comparison of two things which have some element of similarity. The similarity is often used to help clarify an issue or idea.

AnaphoraDeliberate repetition of words for rhetorical effect

Anaphoric referenceWhere a word refers back to an earlier part of a text for its meaning (e.g. in the following text, the underlined words refer anaphorically to ‘David’: I recognised David immediately, even though I had not seen him, my oldest friend, in years.)

AntonymA word with the opposite meaning to another word.

ArchaismA word which is no longer in everyday use, or has lost a particular meaning in current usage.

AspectA form of the verb which explains its relation to time, particularly indicating whether an action is completed (e.g. the perfect – had walk ed) or incomplete (e.g. as in the progressive – was walk ing or perfect progressive – had been walk ing). Compare with Tense.

AudienceThe readers and/or listeners of a text.

AuthorThe producer of a text

AutobiographyThe story of the writer's life told from his or her point of view

BiographyAn account of someone's life told by a third person narrator

Cataphoric referenceWhere a word refers to a later part of a text for its meaning (e.g. in the following text, the underlined words refer cataphorically to ‘Sarah’: Although I had not seen her in years, I recognised my old friend Sarah immediately.)

ClausePart of a sentence, containing (at least) a subject and a verb phrase.

CohesionStrategies used by a writer or speaker to ensure that a text is structured with features that will allow it to be followed by a reader or listener

ColloquialThe casual conversation of everyday language.

CompoundingForming a word from two or more units that are themselves words (e.g. whiteboard from white and
board).

ConjunctionA linking word in a sentence, often to join two clauses

ConnotationThe range of associated meanings brought to mind by a particular word, beyond its essential meaning (or denotation).

ContextThe situation in which a text is produced, including aspects such as social, cultural, political background

ContractionThe omission of letters to make things less formal

CoordinationConnecting two or more independent clauses through the use of coordinating conjunctions.

DeixisLanguage whose meaning is determined in part by contextual factors, such as who is using it, when, where and to whom (e.g. this, that, now, you, tomorrow).

DenotationThe primary meaning of a word, not including its connotations.

DerivationCreating a new word from an existing word, often with the addition of a prefix or suffix (e.g. unwilling derives from will with the prefix un- and the suffix -ing).

Dialectical structureA three-part argument, moving from thesis (an initial argument) to antithesis (the counterargument) and finally to a synthesis that combines the two.

DialogueInterchange between two or more speakers

Direct speechThe use of the exact words spoken by a speaker/character.

DiscourseAny spoken or written language that is longer than a single sentence.

Discourse markersWords or phrases which mark boundaries between one topic and another, where a writer or speaker wishes to change the subject.

DiscursiveA style in which facts and opinions are put forward and explored in order to develop an argument.

EllipsisThe intentional omission of a word, sentence, or section of text for reasons of economy or effect

EmotiveArousing intense feelings or emotions

EpiphoraThe repetition of the same letter or sounds at the end of successive clauses or sentences

EponymThe name of something that is also the name of someone credited with inventing or discovering it.

EtymologyA study of the history of a word and its earlier forms and meanings.

EuphemismA mild, indirect vague term used instead of one considered harsh or offensive

Exophoric referenceWhere a word refers to something outside a text for its meaning, typically as a consequence of a writer or speaker’s expectations as to the knowledge already possessed by the text’s intended audience.

Figurative languageLanguage which expands upon the basic or literal meaning of a word or phrase (e.g. simile or metaphor).

First person narrativeWhere a character in a story narrates the events that they are experiencing. Recognised by the use of I, we, us, our.

ForegroundingUsing grammatical or syntactic devices to draw attention to a particular idea in a text.

FormGenerally, the specific type of whatever category is being considered (e.g. textual form, verb form, grammatical form).
Used on its own, the word ‘form’ often refers to textual form. The division of texts into specific forms (e.g. speech, dialogue, poem, novel, website) involves categorising texts according to how their structural elements combine to create a unified and recognisable whole.
Different forms of text can usually be subdivided into genres (e.g. persuasive speech, romantic novel, cooperative dialogue), depending on their content.

FormalityThe extent to which spoken or written texts either conform to standard conventions or employ more personal language strategies.

GenreA subdivision of textual form determined by the text’s content (e.g. fantasy novel, tragic play, ballad, online review, television commercial, formal report).

GrammarHas a wide meaning, but generally relates to rules for the organisation of meaning in a language.

Head wordThe main word in a phrase (e.g. the noun boy in the noun phrase the happy boy).

IdiomPhrases generally understood in a language but which do not directly translate (e.g. I caught the train by the skin of my teeth = I only just caught the train in time).

In medias resBeginning a narrative in the middle of the events without any build-up or initial explanation.

InferenceThe act of deducing implied meanings.

InfinitiveThe basic, dictionary form of a verb when not associated with a tense.

IntensifierA word, often an adverb or adjective, which has little meaning by itself but is used to add force to other phrases (e.g. really, very).

IntertextualityWhere a text produces additional meaning by referring in some way to another text.

IronyWhen the intended meaning of a text or utterance differs radically from its literal interpretation.

JargonWords and phrases known primarily by a group of people – often within a particular profession – which enable them to exchange complex information efficiently. Jargon may be unintelligible to people outside the group who use it.

Lexical fieldA set of words grouped by meaning around a specific subject- law or medicine, for example

LexisThe complete vocabulary of a language.

MetalanguageLanguage which is used to describe or comment on language (e.g. This translates as… or I meant to say...).

ModalityThe modality of an utterance refers to the attitude a speaker or writer takes to the idea being expressed (e.g. certainty, possibility, obligation, ability). Modality is usually conveyed by the use of the appropriate grammatical mood.

ModeThe format through which ideas or content are communicated to an audience. Modes include spoken (e.g. a conversation, a spontaneous speech), written (e.g. a novel, the text of a leaflet), electronic (e.g. an email, a blog), and image (e.g. a photograph), and can be combined in a variety of mixed modes (e.g. a prepared speech, a podcast).

ModifierA word or phrase-that qualifies or describes (usually an adverb/adverbial phrase or adjective/adjective phrase)

MonologueDiscourse entirely spoken or written by one person

MoodA grammatical feature through which a speaker or writer can express modality (i.e. an attitude towards the content of an utterance), usually involving modal verbs such as can, ought or might. Moods include the indicative/declarative (making a statement), the interrogative (asking a question), the imperative (making a command), and the subjunctive (expressing wishes or uncertainty).

Alternatively, ‘mood’ can also refer to the emotion or feelings evident in a text and the language used to create these feelings.

MultimodalConsisting of more than one mode.

NarrativeA spoken or written account of connected events

Narrative structureThe way in which a story is constructed.

Narrative voiceThe voice of the person telling the story

NetspeakThe language of the internet

NounA word that identifies people, places, or things

Noun phraseA word (or group of words working together) which names a person, place or thing.

ObjectIn grammar, the object is the thing or person acted upon by the subject (e.g. the phrase the meal in the sentence The girl ate the meal).

Omniscient narratorWhere the narrator in a story knows all the thoughts, actions and feelings of the characters.

Passive voiceWhere the subject receives the action of a verb (e.g. The ball was kicked).

PersonificationAttributing human characteristics to nonhuman things

PerspectivePoint of view.

PhraseA group of words that do not constitute a complete sentence.

Point of viewA writer or speaker's choices about how to present information, ideology

PragmaticsA branch of linguistics concerned with the ways in which meaning can alter according to the context of utterance.

PrefixA group of letters, usually conveying a particular meaning, which are added to the front of a word to give a new meaning (e.g. un-, pre-, and with-).

PrepositionA word governing a noun or pronoun to demonstrate a relationship between it and other elements

PronounA word used to substitute for a noun already mentioned

ProseOrdinary language, without a rhyming pattern or rhythmic structure.

ProtagonistThe main character in a literary work.

PurposeA writer or speaker’s main aim when producing a text.

RegisterThe variety of language used in a particular situation, particularly with regard to levels of formality.

RhetoricDevices/language used to persuade or convince

Rhetorical QuestionA question posed by a writer or speaker for emphasis or dramatic effect

Second person narrativeWhen the reader is addressed directly, typically through the use of you, your, yours, etc.

SemanticRelated to the meaning of words.

Semantic fieldA group of words that relate to a shared area of meaning (e.g. needle, nurse and antibiotic could be grouped within the semantic field of medicine).

SentenceGenerally, a set of words that is grammatically complete, consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more additional subordinate clauses.

Sentence StructureHow a sentence is composed from different building blocks. Simple, compounds, complex. compound-complex

SettingThe time, place and atmosphere in which the action of a piece of writing takes place

SimileA figure of speech which makes a comparison between two different things which have one point of likeness, usually using the words like or as (e.g. she was as fast as lightning).

SituationThe location, time, circumstances within or text or the circumstances in which the text is received

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SlangInformal words or expressions