Language Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Adjective

A

a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.

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2
Q

Adverb

A

a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there ).

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3
Q

Alliteration

A

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

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4
Q

Allusion

A

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

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5
Q

Anaphora

A

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

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6
Q

Anecdote

A

a brief, concise account of a funny or interesting moment in someone’s life

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7
Q

Characterization

A

the techniques used by the writer to present their characters

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8
Q

Diction

A

the word choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

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9
Q

Euphemism

A

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt
when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

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10
Q

Extended metaphor

A

a metaphor that isn’t just used in one line but is extended over multiple lines or throughout the work

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11
Q

Figurative language

A

language that is intended to create an image, association, or other effect in the mind of the listener or reader that goes beyond the literal meaning or expected use of the words involved

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12
Q

Genre

A

a category of literary work

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13
Q

Hyperbole

A

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

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14
Q

Idiom

A

a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deductible from those of the original words

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15
Q

Imagery

A

descriptive language that appeals to any of the senses

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16
Q

Noun

A

a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

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17
Q

Omniscient narrator

A

a narrator who is all-seeing and knows the full picture

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18
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

the formation of a word from a sound associated with its name

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19
Q

Paradox

A

a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true

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20
Q

Parody

A

an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect

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21
Q

Personification

A

A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities

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22
Q

Point of view

A

The perspective from which a speaker or writer tells a story or presents information

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23
Q

Preposition

A

a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after dinner,” “what did you do it for ?”.

24
Q

Simile

A

A figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared using “like” or “as”

25
Q

Style

A

How a writer decides to express whatever he wants to say; his choice of words, the sentence structure, syntax, language, etc.

26
Q

Symbol

A

A person, place, action, or thing that represents something else

27
Q

Syntax

A

The arrangement of words in a sentence

28
Q

Tone

A

A writer’s attitude toward the subject and audience

29
Q

Understatement

A

A figure of speech in which a writer intentionally makes a situation seem less important

30
Q

Unreliable narrator

A

a narrator who misjudges or distorts reality

31
Q

Unusual narrator-

A

a narrator who is not necessarily the main character (e.g. a servant who watches events and works out what is happening, or a child who has to make sense of what a parent is doing)

32
Q

Colloquial

A

(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary

33
Q

Conjunction

A

a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if ).

34
Q

Connotation

A

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

35
Q

Counter-argument

A

a point which directly deals with an assertion and provides the opposite view

36
Q

Denotation

A

the literal or primary meaning of a word

37
Q

Dialect

A

a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group

38
Q

Dialectical structure

A

a three-part form of argument, moving from thesis (an initial argument) to antithesis (a counter-argument) and finally to a synthesis that combines the two

39
Q

Diatribe

A

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

40
Q

Irony

A

the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea

41
Q

Interjection

A

an abrupt remark, made especially as an aside or interruption

42
Q

Jargon

A

the specialized language of a professional, occupational, or other group, often meaningless to outsiders

43
Q

Juxtaposition

A

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

44
Q

Limited narrator

A

a narrator who does not know the full story and only reveals what they can see at the time

45
Q

List of three

A

a device with a rhythmic impact, often used in persuasive texts

46
Q

Metaphor

A

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

47
Q

Mood

A

appeals to the audience’s emotions

48
Q

Pronoun

A

a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you ) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this)

49
Q

Pun

A

A word used in two senses, typically for comedic effect

50
Q

Refutation

A

the part of the argument in which the writer or speaker counters the opposing views

51
Q

Register

A

the particular language and grammar usage appropriate to a group of people, role or situation. This might be determined by the level of formality or informality required, or the shared experience of the speaker/writer and reader

52
Q

Repetition

A

An instance of using a word of phrase more than once in a short passage

53
Q

Rhetorical Question-

A

A question asked for effect with no expected answer

54
Q

Sarcasm

A

a mocking, often ironic or satirical remark

55
Q

Satire

A

a text that uses irony, derision, or wit to attack human vice or stupidity

56
Q

Verb

A

a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen.