Language Techniques Flashcards
Tone
attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience
How can you identify tone?
Tone is expressed by your use of syntax, your point of view, your diction, and the level of formality in your writing. Examples of tone in a story include just about any adjective you can imagine: Scared.
What is the readers reaction to tone?
The tone influences how your reader will emotionally respond to the content and subject
Imagery
to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses. Creates a visual representation in your head.
How to identify imagery
pay attention to words, phrases, and sentences that connect with your five senses
Onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle )
Why does a writer use repetition?
Repeating a word or phrase in a sentence can emphasise a point, or help to make sure it is fully understood.
What is the difference between a adjective and adverb?
An adjective describes a noun or pronoun: “That boy is so loud!” An adverb describes a verb or anything apart from a noun and pronoun: “That boy speaks so loudly!”
Metaphor
used to make a comparison between two things that aren’t alike but do have something in common.
Eg The snow is a white blanket. (Usually contains is)
Effect of personification
This is used to make the writing more interesting and makes the reader relate the object to a human;It adds emotion of different sorts depending on what is said. Hence, this increases the focus on that object or action the object has been described to have done. The reader emotionally connects with the object
Euphemism
A word or expression said instead of something that is too harsh usually due to embarrassment( sex and going to the toilet)
Eg: Passed away instead of died.
Or dirtied his trousers.
Superlative
The best at something
Effect of superlative
indicate an extreme or unsurpassed level of emotion, association, or hatred for an object.
Reader reacts to this
Effect of tautology
Tautologies interrupt prose and conversation with unnecessary words. They also sound bad because they are a kind of mistake
Juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”
Aphorism/maxim
NOT SURE CHECK A little saying words of wisdom.
'’To much work and not enough play makes Jack a dull boy’’
Pathos
used to evoke pity or sadness in a reader/audience.
What is the effect of pathos?
Writers and directors use this technique to appeal to their readers’/viewers’ past experiences and/or knowledge of that emotion. It is a persuasive device used to manipulate audience emotions to engage them with character and/or context.
Litotes
Deliberately undervaluing what you have done ‘not bad’
Litotes effect
discovers a unique way to attract people’s attention to an idea, and that is by ignoring it.
What is the effect of juxtaposition?
it helps to bring about the importance and specific qualities of each one.
Pattern of three
Listing a list of 3 for effect
Bathos
Creating an anti climax a quick turn to something diffrent (somewhat undisirable)
abrupt turn from the serious and poetic to the regular and silly.
E.g her cheeks were lined with rouge, and her dress was a flowing green and blue which made her look rather like a tired, old peacock.
Maxim
A short expressive statment saying general truth
asyndeton
No conjunction between part of a sentence
E,g i came, i saw, i conquered
Polysyndeton
Repitition on a conjunction
E.g and ….. and ….. and
Effect of asyndeton?
Rephetroical to make a speech more dramatic and effective by speading up the rythm and pace
Tautology
Two words next to each other that doesn’t need to be there
E.g very excellent
What is an idiom
idiom refers to a set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words. An interesting fact regarding the device is that the expression is not interpreted literally. The phrase is understood to mean something quite different from what individual words of the phrase would imply.
What is pathetic fallacy?
attribution of human emotion and conduct to things found in nature that are not human.
What is zoomorphism?
Giving a human animal qualities(Jake barked)
What is pathetic fallacy?
Where the weather/atmosphere describes the mood
A dark night brings a nasty/evil atmosphere
What is Dysphenism ?
the substitution of a more offensive or disparaging word or phrase for one considered less offensive
Example of a Euphenism and dysphenism?
Doing revison:
Euphenism: time to boost intelligence
Dysphemism: back to the grind
Epistrophe
Repeating end of clauses
Mesodiplosis
When middle of clauses are repeated
Anaphora
Repeating at thr begining of clauses
Anadiplosis
When the end of a clause is repeated at the begining of the next one
Proleptic irony
When earlier events give audience a clue(similar to foreshadowing it just has irony within it)
In media res
Begining or joining a scene whilst it already underway
