Language devices Flashcards
Statistics
A statistic is numerical data
- Numerical data can be used like facts to emphasise and demonstrate the point of the writer
- For example, ‘1 in 4 people’ or ‘50% chance of rain’
Rhetorical questions
A question that does not require an answer
- Rhetorical questions are used to engage and involve the reader by making them think. These are typically used to make a text more persuasive.
- For example, ‘How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?’
Emotive language
Emotive language is designed to make the reader feel something and have an emotional response to the text.
- This helps involve the reader and keeps them interested in reading on.
- For example, ‘A distressing and harrowing example of cruelty’
Power of three
Three words or reasons put together in a list
- This technique helps emphasise the point of the text and involves the reader by giving a variation in sentence structures
- For example, ‘This is a great, adaptable and fun language device’.
Simile
A figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with ‘like’ or ‘as’)
- This helps create an image within the reader’s mind, which helps interest them in the text
- For example, ‘Cold as snow’
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which an expression is used to compare one thing to another by saying it ‘is’ that other thing
- This helps create an image within the reader’s mind, which helps interest them in the text
- For example, ‘The world is your oyster’
Personification
Personification is used to give human qualities or characteristics to animals or objects
- This gives a more detailed image in the mind of the reader much like a simile or metaphor whilst keeping the reader interested through varied devices
- For example, ‘The pipes screeched in the night’
First person narration
A narrative mode that involves one narrator speaking of and about themselves
- This makes the text more personal, which interests the reader as they may feel like they can ‘relate’ to the writer or that they ‘know’ them somehow
- For example, ‘I wrote a letter and I sent it to the North Pole’.
Alliteration
The repetition of initial consonant sounds at the start of two or more words
- Alliteration gives variation in sentences, which interests the reader. It can also be used to make a particular point ‘stand out’.
- For example, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Short sentences
A short sentence is one clause. It is not lengthy.
- Short sentences make information snappy and quick, which can make certain points ‘stand out’ more or give variation within the text to keep the reader interested
- For example, ‘Stop. Look. Listen. Live’.
Direct address
Direct address is when the text addresses the reader. This can be done through second person narration ‘You’.
- Directly addressing the reader involves them in the text and makes them think harder about what the text is ‘saying’.
- For example, ‘You should consider how these revision cards will help you in your exam’.
Repetition
Repetition is the repeated use of the same word or phrases
- Repetition is used to emphasise a certain point and usually makes a text more powerful
- For example, ‘‘Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’.
Sibilance
A type of alliteration in which the “s” sound is repeated.
- Sibilance gives variation in sentences, which interests the reader. It can also be used to make a particular point ‘stand out’ or for a select purpose such as the sound of water.
- For example, ‘Seven sly sea-serpents swimming in the sea’.
Punctuation
The use of certain marks to clarify meaning of written material by grouping words grammatically into sentences and clauses and phrases
- Punctuation helps structure sentences as well as intonation clues. These variations keeps the reader interested and engaged.
- For example, rising intonation in questions ‘Are you well?’ or a sense of emergency in exclamatory statements ‘HELP!’
Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a literary device where the author uses specific words and phrases that exaggerate and overemphasize something in order to produce a grander, more noticeable effect. The purpose of hyperbole is to create a larger-than-life effect and overly stress a specific point. Such sentences usually convey an action or sentiment that is generally not practically/ realistically possible or plausible but helps emphasize an emotion.
- For example, ‘I am so tired I cannot walk another inch’ or ‘I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep standing here’