Language Techniques Flashcards
Tone
An engaging tone, optomisitc, serious or light-hearted, sets the mood and connects with the reader emotionally, making a text more relatable or persuasive.
Formal Language
Establishes credibility and professionalism, making the writer’s points appear more trustworthy and authoritative.
Colloquialisms
Using everyday language creates a controversial feel, making the text more relatable and easier for the reader to engage with.
Personal Feelings and Thoughts
Sharing emotions builds personal connection, encourages empathy and engagement as readers can understand the writer’s perspective.
Personal Pronouns / Direct Address
Speaking directly to the reader (e.x “you”) makes the audience feel included and personally involved in the content.
Personal Anecdotes
Real-life stories and authenticity and help readers to connect memorable and impactful.
First-Person Narrative
This style creates intimacy and immediacy, drawing the reader into the writer’s personal experiences.
Emotive Langauge
Words that evoke emotions (e.x “heart-breaking” or “joyful”) make the content more compelling and memorable by appealing to the reader’s feelings.
Assertive Language
Confident statements engage readers by instilling trust in the reader’s arguments or opinions.
Dialogue
Including direct speech makes the text dynamic and vivid, helping readers visualise the scene or understand differing viewpoints.
Humour
This can entertain and lighten the mood, keeping readers interested while conveying ideas in an engaging way.
Sarcasm
Adds a layer of humour or criticism that can make the writing more entertaining or thought - provoking.
Similes and Metaphors
These creative comparisons help readers to visualise ideas in a fresh, imaginative way, making abstract concepts more accessible.
Contrasts
Highlighting differences emphasises key points, keeping the readers focused and enhances their understanding of the argument.
Personification
Giving human qualities to non-human things makes descriptions more vivid and engaging, helping readers to picture the scenes more clearly.
Nouns
These bring precision to writing, making ideas clear and vivid. They help readers to visualise scenes and connect with the text emotionally.
Verbs
Strong action words inject energy and movement into the text, making it more dynamic and engaging.
Adjectives
Descriptive words add detail and clarity, helping readers to form a clear mental image of the setting, object or character.
Alliteration
Repetition of initial sounds creates rhythm and makes phrases more memorable and enjoyable to read.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
Overstating facts adds humour or drama, keeping readers intrigued and emphasising key ideas.
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases reinforces ideas, ensuring they remain in the reader’s mind.
Puns / Jokes
Wordplay amuses the audience and creates a lighter, more engaging tone.
Superlatives
Words like “best” or “most beautiful” emphasise the extremes of qualities, drawing attention and enhancing the impact.
Rich Description
Detailed imagery captivates the reader’s senses and immerses them in the scene.
Facts and Opinions
Combining factual evidence with personal views strengthens arguments and makes the content balanced yet persuasive.
Expert Opinion
Citing credible sources builds trust and reinforces the writer’s argument, engaging readers through authority.
List of Three / Rule of Three
Grouping contradictory terms together (e.x “bittersweet” or “deafening scilence”) creates a striking and thought-provoking effect that captures the reader’s attention.
Short Sentences
These create impact, build tension, or emphasise key points by delivering ideas quickly and clearly. They can also vary the pacing, keeping the reader engaged.
Long Sentences
These can develop complex ideas, create a flowing rhythm, or immerse the reader in rich detail. They are particularly effective for descriptive or reflective writing.
Use of Sepcific Types of Punctuatuion
Dashes, ellipsis, exclamation marks and colons add variety and emphasis, helping to control pacing, inject emotion, or highlight important points.
