Language Features - Master List

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE
Metaphor A direct (but hidden) comparison in which two things I have a broken heart, he is the
share a commonality apple of my eye.
Simile Comparing two things using like; or as As cold as ice, continuous as the
stars that shine, hot like fire.
Personificati Giving human characteristics to something non-living The leaves danced in the wind while
on tears ran down my cheeks.
Jargon Specialist language unique to people with a common It has a 750 gigabyte hard-drive
interest with 4 GBs of RAM and a dual-core
processor.
Alliteration Repetition of a consonant sound Thomas tried until he felt he might
burst but he couldnt touch his
toes.
Assonance Repetition of a vowel sound she trailed her rags through dust
and ashes...
Sibilance A form of alliteration in which the S sound is repeated. The sneaky, slippery servant of Sam
slithered silently past.
Onomatopo A word which mimics the sound it describes It crashed to the ground and
eia exploded with a resounding boom.
Enjambmen When a piece of syntax continues over a line break in Or gazing on the new soft-fallen
t poetry. All other lines are end-stopped. masque/ Of snow upon the
mountains and the moors
Repetition When words or phrases deliberately recur I looked upon the rotting sea,/ And
drew my eyes away;/ I looked upon
the rotting deck,/ And there the
dead men lay.
Rhythm The beat of words - stressed and unstressed syllables Because I could not stop for Death,/
He kindly stopped for me;/ The
carriage held but just ourselves/
And Immortality.
Rhyme Two or more words which share a similar sound, Twinkle, twinkle little star/ how I
typically the last syllable. wonder what you are.
Euphemism A vague or kinder way of saying something unpleasant. He passed away last night, hes in a
Dysphemism is the opposite (a less tactful way of better place.
saying something).
Oxymoron Combining incompatible ideas to create a contradiction. Clearly confused, Great Depression,
open secret.
Pun A play on words that have similar sounds but different Gravity is an attractive field of
meanings. study. I work as a baker because I
knead the dough.
Clich An expression which has become trite through over-use. A waste of time, Im sorry, the pot
calling the kettle black.
Hyperbole A deliberate exaggeration for effect. I have a million friends on
Facebook, it cost a fortune.
Litotes Emphasising something by denying its opposite. Not bad, youre not that young
anymore, its not that difficult.
Rhetorical A question in which the answer is implied or not Isnt it wrong to kick a puppy? Have
Question expected. you ever considered what would
happen if?
Syllogism A form of deductive reasoning in a conclusion is drawn All year 12s will pass English. He is
from combining two true statements (major and minor a year 12. Therefore he will pass
statements). English.
Imperative A phrase used to express a command, order or request. Do it. Stand there and be quiet.
Read it quietly to yourself.
Emotive Language which is intended to influence the response of Terrorist (as opposed to freedom
Language the reader relies on the connotations of words. fighter), victim as opposed to
plaintiff.
Colloquial Informal language used in common conversation. It is That was really gross. Please dont
Language generally more polite than slang. do it again or Ill puke.
Paradox A contradictory statement that expresses a deeper truth Im a compulsive liar, the beginning
but, both parts may be true separately. of the end, jumbo shrimp.
Anecdote A personal story inserted into a larger narrative.
Tone The attitude of the writer or speaker toward their

subject (or audience) c/f/ Mood, which is what the
reader draws from the text.
Allusion A reference to a well-known person, place or event. It She acts like a Scrooge whenever I
may be real or fictitious. ask her for a loan.
Allegory A character or setting which represents an abstract idea Animal Farm acts as an allegory
or concept with the purpose of teaching a moral lesson for the communist revolution in
or explaining an idea. Russia.
Caesura A strong pause within a line of poetry, usually found To err is human;/ to forgive, divine.
alongside enjambment. They lie together now. They sleep
apart.
Irony The ordinary expression of words is the opposite of what You have delighted us long enough
is intended used for sarcasm or humour (typically used to mean that were
sick of you talking).
Juxtapositio Placing two terms side-by-side to create a new idea or a Merry and tragical? Tedious and
n contrast by creating a parallel between them. brief? That is hot ice, and wondrous
strange snow!
Antithesis Placing completely contradictory terms close together Speech is silver but silence is
to emphasise their difference or give a sense of balance golden, you are easy on the eyes
(juxtaposition of opposites) but hard on the heart.
Extended A metaphor which is continued beyond the first point of
Metaphor comparison to deepen the description.
Syntax The correct and effective placement of individual parts
of speech within a sentence, according to their clause
structure.
Idiom Words or expressions which are not meant to be taken Across the ditch, fair enough, happy
literally, usually specific to a cultural or regional group. as Larry, off with the fairies.
Listing A series of examples that are used to illustrate a point. Mark is inhaling products that can
Groupings of three are common as they make a point be found in floor cleaner, car
and are easily remembered. batteries and rocket fuel
Collocation A familiar group of words that habitually appear Once upon a time, zero tolerance,
together and convey meaning as a result. nuclear family, plastic surgery.
Pejorative A negative or derogatory term that connotes contempt, Punk, chequebook diplomacy,
hostility or disrespect. Includes racial or ethnic slurs. coward, idiot,
witch.
Interrogativ Direct question in which an answer, usually a complex But what do I feel now? Doubt?
e one, is expected who, what, when, where, why, how, Shame? Am I sorry for what Ive
which, whose etc. done?
Neologism A word/phrase that is newly coined. Can come from Spam, catch-22, googling, aspirin,
literature, politics, science or trademarks that app, noob, selfie, podcast, quixotic,
commonly replace generic terms. email, x-ray.
Connotatio The feelings and abstract concepts associated with a Victim = weak, innocent, suffering,
n word its figurative meaning. targeted unfairly, sympathetic
Denotation The literal, dictionary definition of a word. Victim = a person harmed or killed
as a result of a crime, accident,
event or action.
Minor A sentence with no finite verb. Typically titles, proverbs, Yes, wow, Die Hard, the more; the
sentence emotional outbursts or responses. merrier.
Simple A sentence with one complete independent clause The cat sat on the mat.
sentence (subject + predicate).
Compound A sentence with two independent clauses, joined with a The cat sat on the mat and it ate its
sentence coordinating conjunction. dinner.
Complex A sentence with one independent clause and at least The cat ate its dinner because it
sentence one dependent clause, joined with a subordinating was hungry.
conjunction.
Compound- A sentence with two independent clause joined with a The cat sat on the mat and ate its
complex coordinating conjunction AND at least one dependent dinner because it was hungry.
sentence clause joined with a subordinating conjunction.

Language Features - Master List

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TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Tone The attitude of the writer or speaker toward their

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