Language Terms Flashcards

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
Style
How a writer decides to express whatever he wants to say; his choice of words, the sentence structure, syntax, language, etc.
26
Symbol
A person, place, action, or thing that represents something else
27
Syntax
The arrangement of words in a sentence
28
Tone
A writer’s attitude toward the subject and audience
29
Understatement
A figure of speech in which a writer intentionally makes a situation seem less important
30
Unreliable narrator
a narrator who misjudges or distorts reality
31
Unusual narrator-
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
Colloquial
(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary
33
Conjunction
a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if ).
34
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
35
Counter-argument
a point which directly deals with an assertion and provides the opposite view
36
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word
37
Dialect
a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group
38
Dialectical structure
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
Diatribe
a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
40
Irony
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
Interjection
an abrupt remark, made especially as an aside or interruption
42
Jargon
the specialized language of a professional, occupational, or other group, often meaningless to outsiders
43
Juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
44
Limited narrator
a narrator who does not know the full story and only reveals what they can see at the time
45
List of three
a device with a rhythmic impact, often used in persuasive texts
46
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
47
Mood
appeals to the audience’s emotions
48
Pronoun
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
Pun
A word used in two senses, typically for comedic effect
50
Refutation
the part of the argument in which the writer or speaker counters the opposing views
51
Register
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
Repetition
An instance of using a word of phrase more than once in a short passage
53
Rhetorical Question-
A question asked for effect with no expected answer
54
Sarcasm
a mocking, often ironic or satirical remark
55
Satire
a text that uses irony, derision, or wit to attack human vice or stupidity
56
Verb
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.