Language Features Flashcards
(25 cards)
Allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.
“Her patience was her Achilles’ heel.”
“He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
“This place is like a Garden of Eden.”
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. “The early bird catches the worm.” “Hear the mellow wedding bells” “The light of the fire is a sight.”
Connotation
The implied or suggested meaning associated with a word beyond its literal definition. “The word ‘childish’ has a negative connotation.” “‘Home’ suggests warmth and comfort.” “‘Economical’ sounds positive, unlike ‘cheap’.”
Diction
The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. “The use of ‘thou’ gives a Shakespearean flavor.” “Her diction was full of archaic terms.” “The technical diction confused the layman.”
Euphemism
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt. “He passed away last year.” “We need to let you go.” “She’s between jobs.”
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. “I’ve told you a million times.” “This bag weighs a ton.” “He runs faster than the wind.”
Imagery
Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work. “The golden sun poured warmth over the fields.” “The icy wind bit into my skin.” “The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.”
Irony
the use of words to conevey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. “A plumber’s house always has leaking pipes.” “The fire station burned down.” “A traffic jam when you’re already late.”
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. “Time is a thief.” “Her heart is a cold iron.” “The world’s a stage.”
Onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it represents. “The bees buzzed in the garden.” “The door creaked open.” “Balloons go pop.”
Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. “Act naturally.” “Found missing.” “Seriously funny.”
Personification
The attribution of human characteristics to something nonhuman. “The wind whispered through the trees.” “Opportunity knocked on his door.” “The sun smiled down on us.”
Repetition
The action of repeating something that has already been said or written. “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” “And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go…” “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Rhetorical Question
A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer. “Is the pope Catholic?” “Do bears live in the woods?” “Is rain wet?”
Simile
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. “As brave as a lion.” “She’s as busy as a bee.” “He slept like a log.”
Sibilance
A literary device where strongly stressed consonants are created deliberately by producing air from vocal tracts through the use of lips and tongue. “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.” “The sinister serpent slithered silently.” “Sweet scents of summer sighed softly.”
Ambiguity
Often in texts, the ending of a story or line is left for the reader to determine. This is particularly common in postmodern texts.
Authors who use ambiguity do not explicitly state what has happened to a character or plot. They may offer some clue for the reader to decipher, or they may keep it completely open-ended.
This encourages readers to think critically and engage more deeply with the text.
Example: At the end of Inception (Christopher Nolan), we do not know whether the main character is in reality or dreaming. This is shown through a camera cut just as audiences feel they are about to find out.
Juxtaposition
When two things that are generally very opposite are placed next to each other, creating a stark contrast.
Example: A brand new building standing next to an old, historical one.
Tone and Mood
Like the atmosphere, tone or mood is about creating certain feelings within a text. This time, it focusses more on the emotions the author has towards very specific subjects, rather than the scene as a whole.
Example: The enemy? His sense of duty was no less that yours, I deem. You wonder what his name was, where he came from. And if he was really evil at heart. […] War will make corpses of us all.” (J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings)
This dialogue expresses a mood of distaste for war and that it only leads to death, reflecting Tolkien’s own views.
Syntax
Syntax is all about specific sentence structure and how the construction of words into a sentence creates meaning. This is a huge topic (in fact, people do entire degrees on it).
In a simple sense, syntax affects the readability and tone of a certain text. Short sentences create urgency, while compound sentences can create a more passive flow.
Example: “I could hear him behind me. Just one step off. I ran. I ran.”
Body Language
Facial expressions, body language and gestures used to show character’s attitudes, moods or personality. Often focussed on overall body movement and positioning.
Gaze
Where a character looks, which then directs viewer’s eyes. A ‘demand’ gaze involves direct eye contact between a character and the viewer, an ‘offer’ has the character look at something within the image, drawing the viewer’s eyes there too. Can also be used to express emotion/intent.
Composition
What an image is made up of – where things are placed, how it is framed, the colour and lighting used, etc. This generally refers to the image as a whole.
Salience
How much any section of an image draws the viewer’s eyes – the most salient feature of an image is whatever/wherever the viewer’s eyes are first drawn when they look at it. Salience is always deliberate and usually created through contrast, colour, framing and layout.
