Diction & Tone

Diction refers to the author’s choice of words Diction refers to the author’s choice of words. Tone is the attitude the writer has toward the subject.

When analyzing diction, consider such questions as: Is the language concrete or abstract? Are the words monosyllabic or polysyllabic? Do the words have interesting connotations? Is the diction formal or colloquial? Is there any change in the level of diction in the passage? What can the reader infer about the speaker or the speaker’s attitude from the word choice?

What are some of the conclusions we can draw from these answers? Concrete? Abstract? Monosyllabic words Polysyllabic words Formal Colloquial Change in type of diction? Unequivocal? Direct? Complex? Creative? Simplistic? Blunt? Sophisticated? Showy? Educated? Mannerly? Illiterate? Comfortable? Change in writer’s purpose?

Denotation means the literal, dictionary definition of the word – plump and obese both mean caloricly challenged Connotation means the implied or suggested meaning attached to a word, or the emotional “tag” that goes along with the word. Corpulent, plump, obese, heavy set, fleshy, fat, paunchy, burly, over-weight, roly poly, bulky, portly, weighty, pudgy Which word do we use to insult someone? Which one do we use to describe someone we like? Which one do we use to describe a cute little baby?

The choice of diction contributes to the tone The choice of diction contributes to the tone. When discussing tone, consider such questions as the following: Pay close attention to diction (word choice). The words used will reveal the tone/attitude. Is more than one attitude or feeling expressed? Can anything in the passage be described as irony? Irony is often so subtle as to make it difficult to notice.

Whenever possible, use an adjective when describing diction and tone Whenever possible, use an adjective when describing diction and tone. Here is where possessing a large vocabulary helps. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Now…let’s try it!

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans. What are the specific words that create the feeling of the sentence? What words did the author use to create the feeling of the sentence?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans. Bouncing – lit – joyous – glow – fiancé - wedding What kind of words are these?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone. Cheerful diction contributes to the euphoric tone, or uplifting diction contributes to the joyful tone. Don’t use the same descriptive word for diction and tone. Use synonyms if necessary.

She huddled in the corner, clutching her tattered blanket and shaking convulsively, as her eyes and ears scanned the darkened room for evidence of a threatening intruder. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

She sat stiffly in her borrowed party dress and tried to look comfortable as the snobbish dinner guests peppered her with questions about her education and employment. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Harvard accepted her, thus allowing this underprivileged child of an immigrant to rise out of the slums and to study in the same hallowed halls as many great Americans before her. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Bursting through the door, the flustered mother hollered uncontrollably at the unsuspecting teacher who gave the mother’s child an F on her research paper. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Drawing the attention of his classmates, as well as his teacher, the student dared to challenge his Biology professor’s lecture by interrogating him about the Bible’s teachings on the creation of the world. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Gently smiling, her mother tenderly tucked the covers up around the child’s neck, and carefully, quietly, left the room, making sure to leave a comforting ray of light shining through the opened door should the child awake during the night. ____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Remember… What kind of words are there Remember… What kind of words are there? What feeling do the words reveal?

Give each group a card with one of the following tone words written on it: sadness, courage, tension, sympathy, love, happiness, pride, sarcastic, excitement, hate, fear, anxiety. Encourage thesaurus use. Invite each group to write a description of a dog walking in the park, conveying the attitude on the card. They may not use the word written on the card in their description.

Abhorrent. abrupt. accusing. accusatory. admonitory bantering. bitter Abhorrent abrupt accusing accusatory admonitory bantering bitter boring brash bucolic calm cautious childish coarse cold colloquial concerned despairing desperate disdainful disgusted ecstatic effusive elated elegiac eloquent embittered erudite exuberant foreboding gloomy harsh haughty hopeful humble indignant inflammatory irreverent irritated ironic joking joyful light loving miserable melancholic nervous nostalgic optimistic outraged paranoid passionate patronizing pedantic peaceful pessimistic pitiful pleasant playful proud pompous pretentious questioning reflective reminiscent resigned romantic sad sanctimonious sarcastic sardonic scornful sentimental serene serious sharp shocked silly solemn somber soothing snobbish snooty sympathetic taunting turgid vexed vibrant whimsical angry anxious appreciative apologetic arrogant audacious condemning dark condescending contemptuous dreamy mocking moralistic mournful persuasive piquant cynical compassionate confidant

See… The more words you know to describe passages, the more sophisticated your descriptions will be when you analyze authors’ writing.

And one last tip… Never, never, never, never, never say: “The author uses diction.” You are literally saying that the author uses words? Well, duh!!!!!! Always say: The author uses ______ diction. indignant? dark? euphoric? suspicious? Describe the word choice!