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