Diction Flashcards
Denotation
Literal definition/Objective meaning of a word
Ex. 1 - The American Flag is just a piece of cloth
Ex. 2 - Mount Rushmore is just a mountain
Connotation
An implied meaning that’s associated with a word in addition to its literal meaning
Ex. 1 - The American flag means freedom
Ex. 2 - Homework being associated with something bad because people wish to do something else
Colloquial
A style of writing that conveys the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English
Ex. 1 - Y’all
Ex. 2 - Idiomatic expressions (she chickened out)
Formal
Focuses mainly on the clarity, quality and complexity of the writing of the subject
Ex. 1 - They will instead of they’ll
Ex. 2 - We will instead of We’ll
Informal
A broad term for speech or writing marked by a casual, familiar, and generally colloquial use of language.
Ex. 1 - We’re
Ex. 2 - They’ll
Metonymy
A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another
Ex. 1 - The pen is mightier than the sword
Ex. 2 - There is a mountain of work on my desk
Monosyllabic
An utterance or a word having only one syllable
Ex. 1 - Cat
Ex. 2 - Bat
Polysyllabic
Having more than one and usually more than three syllables
Ex. 1 - Antidisestablishmentarianism
Ex. 2 - Shampoo
Contrastive
Tending to contrast, constrasting
Ex. 1 - Different
Ex. 2 - Contrasting colors
Concrete
Language that describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities.
Ex. 1 - Details: crunching sounds, burnt toast
Ex. 2 - Flashing light
Abstract
Language that describes concepts rather than concrete images
Ex. 1 - most art
Ex. 2 - Love
Ambiguous
When the structure and/or content of a statement makes its meaning unclear, leaving it open to multiple possible interpretations
Ex. 1 - The chicken is ready to eat.
Ex. 2 - I saw her duck
