Terminology Flashcards
rhetorical appeals
Rhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).
rhetorical devices
literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression
discourse
written or spoken communication or debate
Rhetoric
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
Semantics
Meaning of words and sentences
Tropes
a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression
style
the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work
connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
non sequitur
something that does not logically follow
Denotation
The dictionary definition of a word
Pedantic
Excessively concerned with book learning and formal rules
Diction
word choice
didactic
Instructive
Elipsis
the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context
Platitude
a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
Euphemism
An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
Polemic
controversy; argument; verbal attack
Hyperbole
exaggeration
Syntax
Sentence structure
Juxtaposition
Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts
Tone
Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character
Mood
Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
understatement
the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
Allegory
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
