Language devices Flashcards
Anecdote
Real life examples/stories that refer to the point the writer is making
Alliteration
Two or more words in succession, beginning with the same letter
Ambiguity
To intentionally confuse meaning
Adjectives
Describing words
Adverbs
Describe how, when or where the verb is done
Bias
To intentionally lean heavily towards one particular side of an argument, without considering the opposing argument
Counter Argument/Contrasting Argument
When a writer intentionally includes the opposing argument in order to show he/she is not being totally biased
Cliché
A phrase that has been overused/very well known (to the point that it usually loses its impact!)
Declaratives
Sentences that ‘declare’ an opinion or idea
Emotive Language
Words or phrases which are used to intentionally stir emotions like anger, shock, disgust, pity
Exclamatives
Sentences that use an exclamation mark at the end- usually to suggest anger or surprise
Exaggeration/hyperbole
To exaggerate an idea usually to create a humorous image (although not always)
Facts/statistics
Statements and figures which can be measured or proven to be true
Formal Language
When a writer used more complex words and standard English
Humour
Used to mock a person/idea/the reader, in order to ‘lighten the tone’ and gain favour with the reader
Informal language
When a writer uses simpler words and non- standard English (slang,dialect)
Irony/sarcasm
To make a statement of which you believe the total opposite is true
Imperatives/commands
Sentences that tell the reader what to do
Metaphor
To compare something to something else that it couldn’t literally be
Nouns:naming words:
- Common nouns:names for everyday objects; dog,table chair
- Proper nouns:official names of people,companies,schools,days of the week,places,etc
Opinion
A writer’s personal point of view
Personification
To give an object human qualities or characteristics
Pun/play on words
To use language for humour, especially using incorrect homophones to create a humorous caption/headline
Rhetorical question
A question that does not require an answer, as the answer is implicitly obvious from the question itself
Thought provoking question
A question that requires the reader to think or consider the issue on a personal level
Quotes/expert opinion
To quote the expert opinion on the topic usually a doctor, lecturer, writer of a book about the same topic,etc
Repetition
Repeating words, phrases or images in the reader’s mind, in order to make them more poignant
Rule of three/triples
To repeat an image in three alternative ways, or to open three consecutive sentences in the same way
Simile
To describe something as being ‘like’ or ‘as’ something else
Scientific jargon
Language that is ordinarily used in the field of Science, in order to make a fact stand out as an educated point
1st Person
‘I’ ‘me’ ‘we’
2nd Person
‘you’ ‘your’
3rd Person
‘he’ ‘she’ ‘they’
Tone
The overall ‘voice’ of the article: angry? sarcastic? humorous? insulting? lighthearted? frustrated?
Verbs
Doing or being words (in their original form, these words always have the word ‘to’ in front of them: to have, to love, to walk, etc.)
