Language Techniques Flashcards
(19 cards)
Metaphor
Direct comparison between 2 objects.
Eg. The moon is a balloon;
Symbol
A symbol is something that represents an idea, a process, or a physical entity. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a heart may be a symbol for “LOVE”.
Personification
Personification is when you assign the qualities of a person to something that isn’t human or, in some cases, to something that isn’t even alive.
Eg. The Stars danced playfully.
Imagery
Refers to the mental representation of pictures, sounds, smells, textures and tastes that are created through powerful and interesting use of language. Imagery can refer to figures of speech such as metaphor, simile and personification.
Sensory imagery
The use of imagery in descriptions that use the five human senses (taste, touch, smell, hear, sound)
Allusion
The reference to well-known figures and/or other texts.
Eg. “And thrice I heard the Cock crow thinking I knew its meaning well.” The reference here is to the denial of Jesus after his arrest by one of his disciples.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the start of the word:
Eg. The sun sizzled softly in the afternoon.
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
Eg. How now brown cow
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or suggests that the source of the sound that it describes.
Emotive language
Emotive language is a language (in particular adjectives or adverbs) that relate to or refers to emotions.
Eg. The bike is bright and cheerful-looking.
Repetition
Repeat key words or phrases to help key themes and arguments stick in the mind of your audience. Makes it memorable.
Eg. The best for furniture; he best for service; the best for your money
Tone
The writer’s attitude to his or her subject matter or readers. You can often decide the tone by imagining the tone of voice a writer might be using if speaking the text. Eg sad, angry, bitter, happy
Cliche
A cliché can be a recognisable word, phrase or concept that has been used so often that it has lost its impact
Eg. Easy as 1,2,3
Context
The range of personal, social, historical, cultural and workplace conditions in which a text is responded to and composed
(The world in which the text is composed)
Genre
A category of type of text that can be recognised by specific aspects of its subject matter, form and language
eg. Teenific- usually set in high-school with stock characters such as cool kids, sport jocks, nerds.
Colloquial language
Colloquial language is language that is informal, which you would use amongst friends but not in a formal situation
Eg. I’m gonna go down to the beach. You wanna come?
Hyperbole
A deliberate exaggeration for dramatic effect and not intended to be taken literally eg. “…endless cry of death and pain
Personification
Is the figure speech which gives human qualities to non-human things
Eg “The Kind old Sun will know”
Simile
Comparison between 2 objects using “like” or “as.”
Eg. The moon was like a balloon;
