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Ap Language Terms
Ap Lang Fall Exam Overview
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Diction | Diction is the choice of words in oral and written discourse. Informal way of speaking, usually known as slang |
| Tone | Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject being written about. A speaker’s attitude can shift on a topic, or an author might have one attitude toward the audience and another toward the subject. |
| Syntax | Syntax is the organization of language into meaningful structure; the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences is syntax. Syntax-- structural or grammatical elements-- is not the same as diction. |
| Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, or mythical. |
| Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentionally or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. |
| Anecdote | A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person. |
| Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. |
| Colloquial/colloquialism | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. |
| Connitation | The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes. |
| Denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion or attitude. |
| Didactic | From the Greek, literally meaning “teaching.” Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. |
| Euphemism | From the Greek for “good speech,” euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. Saying “earthly remains” rather than “corpse” is an example of a euphemism. |
| Extended Metaphor | A metaphor developed at a great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work. |
| Hyperbole | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperbole often has a comic effect. Often, hyperbole produces irony |
| Irony/Ironic | 1) verbal irony, or sarcasm state the opposite of the writer’s true meaning; 2) situational irony events opposite of what is expected; 3) dramatic irony, unknowns to a character in a play or a piece of fiction but known to the reader or the audience. |
| Metonymy | Greek meaning “changed label” or “substitute name,” a figure of speech the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact. |
| Onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include words such as buzz, hiss, hum, and murmur. |
| Oxymoron | Oxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms together to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include “jumbo shrimp” and “cruel kindness.” |
| Parallelism | Also referred to as parallel structure, this term comes from the Greek meaning “beside one another.” Use of parallel structure can involve repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. |
| Point of View | 1) first person narrator: first person pronoun “I” and is a character in the story. 2) The third person narrator tells the story from outside the story “he,” “she,” and “it.” |
| Parody | The specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. Repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. |
| Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that are overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. |
| Sarcasm | From the Greek meaning “to tear flesh,” sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic (that is, intended to ridicule). |
| Symbol | 1) Natural symbols are objects from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them 2) Conventional symbols are those that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious symbols such as a cross or the Star of David |
| Theme | The central idea or message of a work; it’s the insight that it offers into life. Usually theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing. |
Created by:
Genesisisom
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