Language Devices Flashcards
What is an anecdote?
Real life example/story which refers to the point the writer is making
What is alliteration?
Two or more words in succession, beginning with the same letter
What is ambiguity?
When something can have more than one possible meaning - used to intentionally confuse the reader
What is an adjective?
A describing word
What is an adverb?
Describe how, when or where the verb is done
What is bathos?
the sudden appearance of a common/down to earth idea within writing of an otherwise elevated matter or style
What is bias?
To intentionally lean heavily towards one particular side of an argument, without considering the opposing argument
What is counter argument?
When a writer intentionally includes the opposing argument in order to show he/she is not being totally biased
What is a cliché?
A phrase that has been overused/very well known (to the point that it usually loses its impact!)
What is a declarative sentence?
A sentence which declares an opinion or idea
What is emotive language?
Words or phrases which are used to intentionally stir emotions like anger, shock, disgust, pity
What is an exclamative sentence?
A sentence that uses an exclamation mark at the end - usually to suggest anger or surprise
What is exaggeration/hyperbole?
To exaggerate an idea - usually to create a humorous image (although not always)
What is a fact?
A statement which can be proven to be true
What is a statistic?
A figure/percentage/number used as fact
What is formal language?
When a writer uses more complex words and standard English
What is humour?
Used to mock a person/idea/the reader, in order to ‘lighten the tone’ and gain favour with the reader
What is informal language?
When a writer uses simpler words and non-standard English (slang, dialect)
What is irony/sarcasm?
To make a statement of which you believe the total opposite is true
What is an imperative/command?
Statements that tell the reader what to do
What is a metaphor?
To compare something to something else that it couldn’t literally be
What are modal verbs?
Verbs with different levels of possibility: can, could, should, would, might, will, etc.
What is a noun?
A word which names a person, object, animal, company etc.
What is an opinion?
A writer’s personal point of view - not necessarily true or right
What is personification?
To given an object human qualities or characteristics
What is a pun/play on words?
To use language for humour, especially using incorrect homophones to create a humorous caption/headline
What is pathetic fallacy?
Using the weather/setting/atmosphere to reflect upon the mood of the character
What is a rhetorical question?
A question that does not require an answer, as the answer is implicitly obvious from the question itself
What is sibilance?
Repetition of the ‘s’ sound at the beginning of successive words
What is a thought-provoking question?
A question that requires the reader to think or consider the issue on a personal level
What is a quote/expert opinion?
To quote an expert on their opinion on a topic - usually a doctor, lecturer, writer of a book on the same topic etc.
What is repetition?
Repeating words, phrases or images in the reader’s mind, in order to make them more poignant
What is the rule of three/triples?
To repeat an image in three alternative ways, or to open three consecutive sentences in the same way
What is a simile?
To describe something as being ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else
What is scientific jargon?
Language that is ordinarily used in the field of Science, in order to make a fact stand out as an educated point
What is first person narrative?
Writing about yourself: ‘I’ ‘me’ ‘mine’
What are second person pronouns?
Speaking/writing directly to one other person: ‘you’ ‘your’
What are third person pronouns?
Speaking/writing about somebody else: ‘he’ ‘she’ ‘them’ ‘her’ ‘his’
What is tone?
The overall ‘voice’ of an article. The tone can be: angry, sarcastic, humorous, insulting, lighthearted, frustrated etc.
What are verbs?
Doing or being words (in their infinitive form, these words always have the word ‘to’ in front of them) - most commonly ‘-ing’ or ‘-ed’ words
