Language Devices Flashcards
What is pathetic fallacy?
The attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals.
What is the effect of pathetic fallacy?
To evoke a mood/tone that usually reflects the character’s internal state.
What is personification?
When an non-human objects are given attributes considered human.
What are the effects of personification?
- To create an emotional connection with the object.
- To give the object power/importance.
What is zoomorphism?
When a human is given an animal’s attributes.
What is the effect of zoomorphism?
To create a vivid image of the human.
What is chremamorphism?
When a human is given an inanimate object’s attributes.
What are the effects of chremamorphism?
- To create a vivid image of the human.
- To dehumanize the human.
What is a simile?
When two or more nouns are compared using “like” or “as”.
What is then effect of a simile?
To create a visual image of what is being compared.
What is a metaphor?
When 2 or more nouns are directly compared.
What is the effect of a metaphor?
To create a vivid image of what is being compared.
What is an extended metaphor?
When a metaphor is explained further.
What are the effects of an extended metaphor?
- To further create a visual image of what is being compared.
- To make complex ideas more memorable.
What is an oxymoron?
When contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
What are the effects of an oxymoron?
- To create irony/comedic effect.
- To create suspense.
- To make the reader stop and think about the contradiction.
- To create a new idea.
What is juxtaposition?
When two opposing ideas are compared and contrasted.
What are the effects of juxtaposition?
- To create a contrast that shows the differences/similarities.
- To make the audience stop and think about the contradiction.
- To create an emotional response.
- To create suspense.
What is a semantic field/jargon?
A collection of words that fall under a category/theme.
What is a rhetorical question?
A question that is posed without the intent of being answered.
What are the effects of a rhetorical question?
- To create humour.
- To engage the audience and make them think about a topic.
What is hyperbole?
An exaggeration of the intensity of an event/situation.
What are the effects of hyperbole?
- To create humour.
- To emphasize.
What is assonance?
The repetition of the vowel sound.
What are the effects of assonance?
- To emphasize.
- To engage the reader.
- To make the phrase more memorable.
What is alliteration?
The repetition of the letter at the beginning of the words in a phrase.
What are the effects of alliteration?
- To engage the reader.
- To make the phrase more memorable.
What is sibilance?
The repetition of the “s”, “sh”, “z” and “t” sounds.
What are the effects of sibilance?
- To direct the readers attention to a specific part of the text.
- To convey specific emotions, the softness/harshness deciding which one.
What is emotive language?
The use of language to evoke a specific emotion from the reader.
What are the effects of emotive language?
⦁ To evoke an emotional response in the reader.
⦁ To connect with the audience, and call them to action.
What is Onomatopoeia?
The use of sounds.
What are the effects of onomatopoeia?
⦁ To create a vivid auditory image.
⦁ To engage and excite the reader.
What is the rule of three?
The use of three adjectives in a row.
What are the effects of the rule of three?
⦁ To create a vivid image.
⦁ To help the audience remember the information conveyed.
What are the effects of general repetition?
⦁ To emphasize.
⦁ To create rhythm.
⦁ To develop a sense of urgency.
What is anaphora?
Repetition at the beginning of sentences/phrases.
What are the effects of anaphora?
⦁ To emphasize.
⦁ To evoke high levels of emotion.
⦁ To make a call to action.
⦁ To persuade the reader.
What is epistrophe?
Repetition at the ending of sentences/phrases.
What are the effects of epistrophe?
⦁ To emphasize.
⦁ To create rhythm.
⦁ To makes the words more memorable.
What are the effects of symploce?
⦁ Highlights the contrast between different option/possibilities.
⦁ It adds a sense of balance.
⦁ To create rhythm.
What is symploce?
Repetition at the beginning and ending of a sentence/phrase.
What is colloquial language?
When text is written how one would say it in conversation.
What are the effects of colloquial language?
⦁ To lower the register(formality) of a text.
⦁ To characterize a character.
What is a euphemism?
A more pleasant way of phrasing an idea.
What are the effects of a euphemism?
⦁ To create humour.
⦁ To make a situation/event seem less serious/important.
What is a hypophora?
When a character answers their own question.
What are the effects of a hypophora?
⦁ To emphasize.
⦁ To engage the audience toward a specific idea/perspective.
What is satire?
The use of humour to expose a problem.
What are the effects of satire?
⦁ To make the reader question controversial ideas/actions.
⦁ To create humor.
⦁ To evoke anger.
What is symbolism?
Assigning a wider meaning/theme/idea to something.
What are the effects of symbolism?
⦁ To create vivid visual image.
⦁ To create a specific mood/tone.
What is an anecdote?
A small personal story.
What are the effects of an anecdote?
⦁ Brings the audience closer to the writer.
⦁ To characterize a character.
⦁ To persuade the reader.
What is tmesis?
Inserting a word in another word.
What are the effects of tmesis?
⦁ For emphasis.
⦁ For comedic effect
What is a cliché?
Commonly used words or phrases.
What are the effects of a cliché?
⦁ To diminish a message’s effect/impact.
⦁ Causes the audience to question the writers authority and reliability.
What is a paradox?
Two seemingly contradictory idea, which upon closer inspection, aren’t.
What are the effects of a paradox?
⦁ To cause the reader to think more critically about the ideas/themes in the text.
⦁ To engage the audience in the text.
What is an imperative?
A command.
What are the effects of an imperative?
⦁ To give a character/action more power/importance/urgency.
⦁ To instruct the audience on how they should go about doing something.
What is a plosive?
Repetition of the “p”, “b”, “d” or “t” sound.
What are the effects of a plosive?
⦁ To create a harsh atmosphere/tone.
⦁ To create a verbal reflection of events/items/emotions.
What is a cacophony?
Repetition of harsh sounds.
What are the effects of a cacophony?
⦁ To create a discordant and unpleasant atmosphere/tone.
⦁ To make the reader to feel the trouble/seriousness of the event.
What is anastrophe?
When the words in a sentence is changed/not correct.
What are the effects of anastrophe?
⦁ To show confusion.
⦁ To create humour.
What is verbal irony?
When the opposite of what a character says, happens.
What are the effects of verbal irony?
⦁ To create humor.
⦁ To foreshadow events/ to create a foreboding atmosphere/tone.
What is structural irony?
When the opposite of what a character thought would happen, happens.
What are the effects of structural irony?
⦁ To create a humorous tone.
⦁ To evoke empathy.
⦁ To lessen the significance of a situation/character.
