Diction ProjectWhitney
Kristen
Lexi
Brendan
Sean
Vulgarity
Language that is deficient in taste.
Example: “I am preparing a bomb, which will blow the old goat higher than hell” (Catbird Seat; Thurber, 5).
Consonance
A near rhyme that consists of identical consonant sounds followed by different vowel sounds.
Example: home, same; worth, breath.
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Pedestrian vs. Pedantic
Everyday language vs. borish inflated language
Example: “Each of these files plays an indispensable part in the system of F&S.” vs. “Well don’t tear up the pea patch!” (The Catbird Seat; Thurber, 2).
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Informal/Standard
Represents the plain language of everyday use, and often includes slang, contractions, and many simple, common words.
Example: “What’s up dude.”
Formal (Literate)
Consists of an impersonal and elevated use of language and is often characterized by complex words.
Example: “How are you.”
“Friend.”
Euphonious vs. Cacophonous
• Pleasant sounding vs. harsh sounding
• Ex. Her singing voice was euphonious, she did not hit a wrong note
• Ex. The cacophonous music coming from the band room was painful to those who passed by.
Literal vs. Figurative
• Accurate without embellishments vs. comparison creating a pictorial effect– Ex. She is as pretty as a
rose.
Cliché
• Figurative language that has lost its freshness and clarity– Ex. “Doesn’t even lift a
finger” • For Esme ~ J.D. Salinger
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Denotative vs. Connotative
• Exact meaning vs. suggested, emotional meaning– “What is a name. That
which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
• Romeo and Juliet
Hyperbole (overstated) vs.
Understated
• Deliberate exaggeration of facts vs. deliberate misrepresentation of less– Ex. “I’d become addicted to
reading bulletin boards.”• For Esme ~ J.D. Salinger
Colloquial
• Regional or provincial– Ex. Rubbers
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Slang
• Vernacular speech sometimes humorous, exaggerated, or shortened for effect
• Ex. Cool, awesome, fun, dope
Jargon
• Specific to a field or profession– Ex. Football jargon: tackle,
fumble, blitz, field goal, touch down
Alliteration
• Repetition of initial consonate sound in closely associated words– Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck
of pickled peppers– Ex. No nonsense near noon– Ex. Opposites only open
oppositely
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Objective/Subjective Diction
•Objective diction is impersonal diction that is without emotion.
•Subjective Diction is diction that shows emotion and is personal.
Ex: “Lissa was full-out crying now, her face buried in my shoulder.”
-This Lullaby, Sarah Dessen
Mono/Poly Syllabic Diction
• Mono syllabic diction is diction using one syllable.
Ex: “big blonder hair.”- This Lullaby, Sarah Dessen
•Poly syllabic diction is diction using more than one syllable.
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Active/ Passive Diction
• Active diction is diction that states action.
Ex: “She laughed louder than ever.”- The Catbird Seat,
James Thurber
•Passive diction is diction that states being.
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Concrete/Abstract Diction
• Concrete diction is giving a description of something specific and tangible.
Ex. “Sitting in his apartment, drinking a glass of milk.”
- The Catbird Seat, James Thurber
•Abstract Diction is showing something that is conceptional and philisophical.
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Assonance
• An assonance is the repetition of a similar vowel sound in closely associated words.
Ex. “Hear the mellow wedding bells.” -Edgar Allen Poe “The Bells”
Work Cited Page
• Romeo and Juliet ~ Shakespeare
• The Catbird Seat ~ James Thurber
• For Esme ~ J.D. Salinger
• This Lullaby ~ Sarah Dessen