Words and Their Use Flashcards
(41 cards)
word choice
diction
the ordering of words for a sentence; describes sentence structure
syntax
manner of expression; describes how author uses language to get his or her point across (e.g. pedantic, scientific, emotive)
style
attitude, mood, or sentiments revealed by the style; describes how author seems to be feeling (e.g. optimistic, ironic, playful
tone
stance revealed by the style and tone of the writing; expresses author’s position on topic discussed; could be as simple as “1st person narrator”
point of view
art of speaking or writing effectively; stylistic devices used to appeal successfully to a specific audience; persuasive in nature
rhetoric
speech or writing that departs from literal meaning to achieve a special effect or meaning
figurative language
a classical appeal to reason and logic; provides objective evidence, hard facts, statistics, or logical strategies (like cause and effect) to back up a claim
logos
a classical appeal to speaker’s credibility; whether author is to be believed on basis of character and expertise; ethics
ethos
classical appeal to emotions, values, or desires of the audience; root of what means suffering from inferiority
pathos
figurative language used to convey a sensory (visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory) perception; synonymous with figurative language
imagery
overstatement or exaggeration; use of figurative language that significantly exaggerates the facts for effect; often employed for comic effect
hyperbole
figurative language that presents the facts in a way that makes them appear much less significant than they really are; almost always used for comic effect
understatement
comparison between two unlike objects, in which the two parts are connected with a term such as like or as
simile
a simile without a connecting term such as like or as
metaphor
a metaphor that lasts for longer than just one phrase or sentence
extended metaphor
word that represents something other than itself; meant to conjure up an another object or element
symbol
a word’s primary or literal significance
denotation
refers to the vast range of other meanings that a word suggests; context and author’s intent helps determine the appropriate version
connotation
an apparent contradiction of terms; almost always involve only brief phrases
oxymoron
an apparent contradiction of ideas or statements; involves situations in longer phrases
paradox
figurative device in which inanimate objects or concepts are given human qualities
personification
specific type of personification wherein animals are given human qualities (think of Aesop’s fables)
anthropomorphism
a question whose answer is obvious; types of questions that don’t need to be answered and usually aren’t; attempt to prove something without actually presenting an argument; sometimes used as form of irony
rhetorical question