Language features and Stylistic Techniques Flashcards
Alliteration
The repetition of a sound or the 1st letters
Ambiguity
Ambivalence/inexactness
Anecdote
Short amusing/interesting story about a real person or incident. Can help in persuasive writing as u provide a more personal story
Antithesis
A statement in the form of two opposed elements
Apostrophe
Direct adress
Assonance
Resemblance in sounds by vowls
Atmosphere
Overall mood created by the writer
Clusters of three
Consonants repeated 3 times examples; CLick, CLam, CLean
Contractions
Don’t instead of do not
Contrast
Black and white
Diction
Choice of words
Ellipse
…
Emotive language
Emotive words, happy, freedom, adored
Euphemism
Less harsh words to avoid causing offense or hurt
Form
Layout
Grammar
Rules of the language regarding sounds, words, sentences…
Humor
Jokes
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration
Imagery
Creating a clear sense impression through the use of figurative language
Irony
A statement that says the opposite of what it means
Juxtaposition
Placing contrasting elements next to each other, eg. Bitter sweet
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Mood
Emotional atmosphere or feeling of the text/ emotional state of the writer
Negatives
Worst outcome
Onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it resembles example; Bang, snap, flutter
Oxymoron
Side by side placement of two contrasting ideas eg. Deafening Silence
Paragraph composition
Structure of a paragraph, into- body- conclusion
Parenthesis
Used to add additional information. Typically dashes, commas, brackets
Personal pronouns
I, we, me, us, you, they, them, she, her, it
Personification
The attribution of human characteristics to something non-human
Persuasion
Persuading someone to believe or do something
Point of view
Opinion
Propaganda
Purpose is to persuade and is used especially by governments and politicians
Pun
Play upon words, using words that are alike but have different meanings
Punctuation
Use of symbols to divide sentences
Register
Appropriateness in conversation / how effectively the writer connects with the audience
Repetition
Example: a word, idea, structure of the text
Rhetorical questions
Used to emphasize an argument or opinion, Will make a reader question the text. Can be used in persuasion
Sarcasm
Use of irony to mock or convey
Satire
Can be humorous / has serious purpose and mocks what is wrong in society
Sensationalism
Often used by the media
Sentence construction
Simple/complex /compound
Simile
Comparison
Strong verbs
Blab, gobble, lurk…
Style
Subjective/objective/factual/ emotive/ conversational/ technical etc.
Symbolism
The use of a physical object to represent something abstract
Tense
Present/Past /Future
Tone
Attitude of writer toward a subject or an audience, conveyed through choice of words or view point of a writer on a particular subject eg. Serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, cheerful
Word order
The arrangement of words in a sentence
Vocabulary
Words
Pathetic fallacy
Pathetic fallacy is the projection of human emotions onto non-human objects found in nature.
pathetic fallacy refers exclusively to the attribution of human feelings to something non-human (usually aspects of nature)
Eg. The raindrops wept around her. The sun smiled down upon him
Sibilance
Repetition of the letter S, F, V, Sh, Ch
Creates effect of a calming/sensual/danger atmosphere.
It is memorable sound, creates imagery, can create tension if used properly.
Facts and stats
Provides legitimacy, trusted
Zoomorphisim
When you give a person animal features
Eg. Mike barked at me
Effect: evokes emotion, engages the audience, creates vivid imagery, enriches overall meaning
Plosives
Repetition of a harsh sound like D, per, p, k
Anaphora
Definition: Anaphora involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.
Example: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up… I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia…”
Epiphora
Definition: Epiphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.
Example: “We love life, we love freedom, we love our planet.”
Parallelism
Definition: Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures or patterns in adjacent phrases or clauses.
Example: “Like father, like son.”
Allusion
Definition: Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.
Example: “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
Zeugma
Definition: Zeugma involves a word applying to more than one part of a sentence, often in a clever or humorous way
Example: “He stole my heart and my wallet.”
Chiasmus
Definition: repetition of words in reverse order
Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Litotes
Definition: Litotes is a figure of speech in which a positive is stated by negating its opposite. Can show an understatement
Example: “It’s not the best weather today” to imply the weather is not good
Paradox
Definition: A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory but may hold a deeper truth.
Example: “Less is more.”
Amplification
Makes a sentence more detailed
Example:
Original- the party was enjoyable
Amplified- the party was full of dtinks, lively music, laughter and the warmth of friends
Periphrasis:
Explanation: Periphrasis involves using more words than necessary to convey a meaning, often with an understated tone.
Example: Referring to someone as “not the most reliable” instead of saying they are unreliable.
