Study Summer English Vocab Flash Cards

 
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Summer English Vocab

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the everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving nonstandard usage
vernacular
the deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it
understatement
an artful deviation from the ordinary or principal signification of a word (hyperbole, metaphor, and personification are some examples)
trope
the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
tone
the primary position taken by a writer or speaker
thesis
a central idea of a work
theme
needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding ("Widow woman," "free gift")
tautology
the manner in which words are arranged into sentences
syntax
describing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color," "a sweet sound")
synesthesia (or synaesthesia)
using one part of an object to represent the entire object (ex: referring to a car simply as "wheels")
synecdoche
a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise
syllogism
a construction in which one word is used in two different senses
syllepsis
the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work
style
the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work
structure
non standard grammatical usage; violation of grammatical rules (ex: unflammable; they was)
solecism
a sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause
simple sentence
a comparison of two things using "like," "as," or other specifically comparative words
simile
an artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words (anaphora, anastrophe, antithesis are some examples)
scheme
the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions
satire
harsh, cutting language or tone intended to ridicule
sarcasm
literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression
rhetorical devices
a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer
rhetorical question
the art of presenting ideas in a clear, effective, and persuasive manner
rhetoric
the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural
polysyndeton
a strong verbal denunciation. The term comes from the orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedonia in the fourth century
philippic
endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics
personification
characterized by an excessive display of learning or scholarship
pedantic
the quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity
pathos
a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to quality or explain
parenthetical
a humorous imitation of a serious work
parody
deriving general principles from particular facts or instances
inductive reasoning
a suggestion an author or speaker makes (implies) without stating it directly. NOTE: the author/speaker implies; the reader/audience infers
implication
a sentence that gives a command
imperative sentence
the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses
imagery
an expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the words in the expression; or, a regional speech or dialect
idiom
intentional exaggeration to create an effect
hyperbole
language employing one or more figures of speech (simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)
figurative language
a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark
exclamatory sentence
an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
euphemism
the persuasive appeal of one's character, or credibility
ethos
a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading of a chapter or other section of a work
epigraph
a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying
epigram
the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context
ellipsis
harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds
dissonance
having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing
didactic
the word choices made by a writer
diction
a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region
dialect
the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms
parallelism
an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth ("whoever loses his life, shall find it)
paradox
an inference that does not follow logically from the premises (literally, "does not follow")
non sequitur
a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works
motif
the emotional atmosphere of a work
mood
substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it
metonymy
a direct comparison of two different things
metaphor
a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage
maxim
the mistaken substitution of one word for another word that sounds similar
malapropism
appeal to reason or logic
logos
a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (describing a particularly horrific scene by saying, "It was not a pretty picture")
litotes
placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
juxtaposition
the specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession
jargon
the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs (situational, verbal, dramatic)
irony
a sentence constructed so that the predicate comes before the subject
inverted syntax
an intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack
invective
a sentence that asks a question
interrogative sentence
a conclusion on draws (infers) based no premises or evidence
inference
the literal meaning of a word
denotation
reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case
deductive reasoning
a sentence that makes a statement or declaration
declarative sentence
a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
cumulative sentence (loose sentence)
the implied or associative meaning of a word
connotation
details that relate to or describe actual, specific things or events
concrete details
a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
conceit
a sentence with two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses
compound-complex sentence
a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions
compound sentence
a sentence with one independent clause and at least on dependent clause
complex sentence
informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing
colloquialism
generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure
climax
an expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off
cliche
a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed
chiasmus
a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast
balanced sentence
a construction in which elements are represented in a series without conjunctions
asyndeton
a concise, statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance
aphorism
a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
antithesis
the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
antecedent
a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
anecdote
repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses
anaphora
a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
analogy
a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
allusion
a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions
allegory
an argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue
Ad hominem argument
a word free from limitations or qualifications ("best," "all," "unique," "perfect")
absolute
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