Language features Flashcards
Simile
the use of similes as a method of comparison - Brave as a lion
Metaphor
a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison, but in a way different from a simile -He’s a couch potato
Retorical question
a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.- ‘What time do you call this?
short sentences
A simple sentence is built from the minimum of a subject and a main verb. It can be very short in length (but doesn’t have to be): - ‘The angry dog barks.
Personification
take an object or animal and give it human qualities, such as emotions or thoughts.- “The sun smiled down on us.”
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. - Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. - “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse
onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle ). - boing, gargle, clap, zap, and pitter-patter.
Oxymoron
Creates emphasis and draws attention to the idea being presented by the contradiction - The silence was deafening.
Repetition
The deliberate repetition of words close together. -It was cold, cold, cold.
Colloquial language
Casual, informal, everyday spoken language. Often not grammatically correct.
-Hey mate, put the saussies on the barby.
Jargon
Language belonging to a particular job, hobby or field of study. - Your objection is overruled.
Cliche
“Yeah, right.”
“As old as time.”
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
Semantic field
A set of words grouped by meaning or connotation, referring to a specific subject. -
“Steam”, “creek”, “pool”, “drenched” – semantic field of water
Verbs
Action words describing movement, thought and existence. - Falling, singing, being, doing.
