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AP Language: Diction Flashcards

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7409302169Diction- word choice.0
7409302170Monosyllabic/Anglo-Saxon- root word only, sounds more informal. - simple & direct.1
7409302171Polysyllabic/Latin-Greek- root word along w/ a prefix/suffix. - sounds formal, complex & indirect.2
7409302172Denotative- dictionary definition.3
7409302173Connotative- emotional definition.4
7409302174General- amateurish, don't use in formal context. - examples: cry, throw, walk, etc.5
7409302175Specific- responds to a question, how to do something. - examples: weep, sob, gaze, stride, etc.6
7409302176Abstract- not imaginative, lack of sensory appeal.7
7409302177Concrete- imaginative words that combine to form a vivid "mental picture".8
7409302178Euphonious- pleasant sounds, sound nice to the ear. - examples: puffy, butterfly, fluffy, etc.9
7409302179Cacophonous- hard vowel sounds, harsh to the ear. - examples: putrid, grate, pus, etc.10
7409302180Colloquial- informal/slang words or expressions. - examples: lowkey, extra, shady, etc.11
7409302181Idiomatic- words whose meanings can't be predicted from the meanings of the constituent words. - examples: "raining cats and dogs."12
7409302182Figurative Language- speech/writing that departs from the literal meaning in order to achieve a special word/meaning, etc.13
7409302183Pedantic- overly concerned w/ small details in teaching/learning.14
7409302184Esoteric- secret, belonging to a select few.15
7409302185Abstruse- hard to understand, hidden.16
7409302186Insipid- to lack interesting or distinctive qualities.17
7409302187Bombastic- pretentious, haughty.18
7409302188Trite- lack of originality, long, & drawn out.19
7409302189Cultured- enlightened; refined.20
7409302190Euphemistic- inserting a word in place of a more offensive word.21
7409302191Pretentious- trying to sound smarter than you are.22
7409302192Sensuous- diction that appeals to a sense besides sight.23
7409302193Plain- unadorned; simple.24
7409302194Poetic- having qualities of poetry such as imagery, figurative language, etc.25
7409302195Moralistic- imposes morality on someone by using censorship. - can sound preachy.26
7409302196Vulgar- indecent.27
7409302197Scholarly- references academics.28

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