| Term | Definition |
|---|
| diction | word choice, general character of the slang used by the author |
| monosyllabic | one syllable |
| polysyllabic | multiple syllables |
| euphonious | pleasant sounding |
| cacophonous | harsh sounding |
| literal | accurate without embellishment |
| figurative | comparison creating a pictorial effect |
| denotative | dictionary definition |
| connotative | suggested emotional meaning |
| objective | impersonal, unemotional, neutral |
| subjective | personal, emotional |
| active | states action |
| passive | states being |
| concrete | specific, tangible |
| abstract | conceptual, philosophical |
| hyperbole | deliberate exaggeration of facts (impress) |
| understated | deliberate misrepresentation of less |
| pedestrian | layman's terms |
| pedantic | boorish, inflated language attempting to display importance |
| formal | appropriate for more formal occasions; often more abstract |
| informal/standard | correct, but conversational |
| cliche | language used so often it has lost its freshness and clarity |
| jargon | specific to a field or profession |
| colloquial | regional, provincial; differs from language in connotation, pronunciation, usage; accepted in informal conversation |
| slang | vernacular speech sometimes humorous, exaggerated, or shortened for effect |
| vulgarity | language deficient in taste and refinement, coarse, base |
| alliteration | repetition of initial consonant sound in closely associated words |
| onomatopoeia | words whose pronunciation suggest meaning |
| consonance | repetition of similar words consonant sound in closely associated words (half rhyme) |
| assonance | repetition of similar vowel sounds in closely associated words |
Combine with other sets
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