Language techniques Flashcards
A story or narrative with two meanings; the obvious or literal meaning that is immediately clear, and a second, usually hidden meaning.
Allegory
Using two sentences with contradictory or contrasting meanings close to one another, sometimes even in immediate succession.
Antithesis
A subtle or passing reference to an event, person, place, other text, etc. that is intended to be noticed by readers (though isn’t always picked up on).
Allusion
When something is left to the reader’s imagination. Often this involves the author not stating explicitly what is happening, what has been said, etc.
Ambiguity
An immediately recognisable character, concept or object that makes it easy for audiences to categorise them based on what they resemble in literature.
Archetype
The process by which characters are introduced, described and then fully formed through their choices, interactions, etc.
Characterisation
The ideas, feelings or concepts associated with specific words, phrases or situations that go beyond their literal meaning.
Connotations
This is essentially a ‘story within a story’, wherein the main narrative is being told, remembered, etc. by someone in the ‘outside narrative.
Frame narrative
Another character in a story that specifically contrasts the main character in order to emphasise the main character’s attributes and values or compare the values of the two characters.
Foil
The act of referring to something not by its actual name but by a figurative name or the name of something associated with it.
Metonymy
An idea, symbol, object, concept or theme that is always present throughout an entire text, playing a significant and/or symbolic role in the narrative.
Motif
A specific from of alliteration involving the repetition of ‘s’ within a phrase or sentence.
Sibilance
Any techniques that focus on the sounds produced by words and/or how they relate to one another.
Sound devices
The overall message or moral of a narrative which is intended to cause audiences to think on real-life issues or moral questions.
Theme
Uses two similar concepts or ideas to create a relationship or draw comparisons between the two.
Analogy
Similar to alliteration, however in this case it is vowel sounds that are repeated.
Assonance
Repetition of consonants at the beginning of successive words or within sentences/phrases to create a sense of rhythm, though they can be overdone (as in tongue twisters).
Alliteration
A common and/or overused expression, often found in similes and metaphors.
Cliché
Any situation wherein two different or opposing things are presented together in order to highlight their differences.
Contrast
The time, place and social setting within which a text was created, including the values of the time, the world events, major topics of discussion, key figures, etc.
Context
Any situation wherein the audience is privy to some sort of information that the characters do not know, building audience tension, suspense, etc.
Dramatic irony
A mild or ‘proper’ expression used to replace one that is harsh, blunt or otherwise offensive in order to not cause trouble or appear vulgar.
Euphemism
The act of hinting at or setting up a situation, event or action that will later be extremely important in the narrative but doesn’t seem important at the time.
Foreshadowing
The construction and structure of a text based on the text type, the context and the author’s personal stylistic choices.
Form
Incomplete or broken off sentences used most commonly in dialogue to replicate regular speech patterns and being cut off or trailing off while speaking.
Fractured sentences
The purposeful over-exaggeration of a statement in order to create a more intense or over-the-top effect.
Hyperbole
Words used to create an idea or mental image of something, most often found in descriptions or created through descriptive language.
Imagery
This occurs when one text makes reference to another text, either obviously or in a more subtle way (e.g. allusions) in order to make a point or draw links between the two.
Intertextuality
A disconnect between what is said and what is meant, usually with the words said having a second insulting, humorous or satirical meaning.
Irony
The strength or force of a word, which low modality words being passive while high modality words are forceful.
Modality
A word that it the ‘sound’ of what it represents, allowing the reader to ‘hear’ what is occurring.
Onomatopoeia
Two contradictory words or concepts used together to create a strange or complex thing/idea that still makes sense.
Oxymoron
The way a sentence is constructed – short, long, fragmented, compound, complex, etc.
Syntax
