Diction -- Types of Diction

Question 1

Euphonious vs Cacophonous

Answer 1

pleasant sounding vs harsh sounding

Question 2

Example of euphonious

Answer 2

inelegant and nincompoop

Question 3

Example of cacophonous

Answer 3

jerk and awkward

Question 4

Literal vs figurative

Answer 4

Accurate language without embellishment vs comparative language for pictorial effect

Question 5

Literal examples

Answer 5

Frugal and quiet

Question 6

Figurative examples

Answer 6

Financially retentive and silently contemplative

Question 7

Denotative vs connotative

Answer 7

Language with exact meaning vs language with suggested, emotional meaning

Question 8

Denotative example

Answer 8

Dress, overweight, and thin

Question 9

Connotative example

Answer 9

Gown, plump, and scrawny

Question 10

Objective vs subjective

Answer 10

Language that is impersonal, unemotional, and unbiased vs language that is personal, emotional and biased.

Question 11

objective example

Answer 11

grading by data

Question 12

subjective example

Answer 12

grading by personality

Question 13

Active vs passive

Answer 13

States action vs states being

Question 14

Active example

Answer 14

The students made progress

Question 15

Passive example

Answer 15

Passive voice is used when athor wants to calm the reader, remain vague, remove agency or conceal info. Progress was made by the students.

Question 16

Concrete vs abstract

Answer 16

Language that is specific tangible, things facts vs language that is conceptual, philosophical, ideas

Question 17

concrete example

Answer 17

Flag or study habits

Question 18

abstract example

Answer 18

patriotism and motivation

Question 19

Hyperbole vs understatement

Answer 19

Litotes. A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for rhetorical effects vs restraint or lack of emphasis in expression for rhetorical effect.

Question 20

Hyperbole example

Answer 20

The shot heard round the world

Question 21

Understatement example

Answer 21

I was only doing my job (after saving someone’s life)

Question 22

Pedestrian vs pedantic

Answer 22

both are pejorative. Language of common person (nonstandard, mundane) vs language inflated to display importance (arrogant)

Question 23

Pedestrian example

Answer 23

Cool

Question 24

Pedantic example

Answer 24

urbane/haute