Elements of Style: Diction Syntax

Diction: Word Choice “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is like the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” Mark Twain

Diction: Word Choice Diction is the analysis of how a writer uses language for a distinct purpose and effect, including WORD CHOICE and FIGURES OF SPEECH.

Ways to Characterize Diction 2. Formal - academic or literary writing Germ Relatives Position Child 1. Informal - personal writing Bug Folks Job Kid Ex. He is two fries short of a Happy Meal. (slang=highly informal) He’s crazy. (informal) He’s schizophrenic or insane. (formal)

Take it another step… Colloquial—conversational language Dialect- example – Southern Dialect/Minnesota Dialect Slang—highly informal and not appropriate for most writing Jargon—the special language of a profession or group (lawyer or teacher talk, medical terminology, technical words) that is usually formal

Ways to Characterize Diction General Look Walk Sit Cry Specific Gaze, stare, peer, ogle Stride, slink, trot, shuffle Slump, squat. Lounge Weep, sob, bawl Ex. The dishes fell to the floor with a loud noise (crashed or clattered). He walked along slowly (ambled, sauntered). He looked at her in an angry way (glowered, glared).

Ways to Characterize Diction Monosyllabic (Anglo-Saxon-think of the Germans who brought us the English language-kill and grunt story-curse words) -one syllable Polysyllabic (Latinate/Greek-think of Renaissance and beautiful words and adjectives) -many syllables The more polysyllabic words, the more difficult the text

Ways to Characterize Diction Denotative (Referential-dictionary) Public servant Law Officer Legislative consultant Investigator Soldier of fortune Connotative (Emotive-emotional) Bureaucrat Cop Lobbyist Spy Hired killer

Ways to Characterize Diction Abstract is Not material Representing a thought Concrete is Real, actual Specific, not general

Syntax: Sentence Structure Examine sentence patterns and variety for an effect. Function: What is the function of the sentence? Declarative (statement) Interrogative (question) Imperative (command) Exclamatory (exclamation)

Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex Grammatical: Which type is the sentence? Simple Sentence (one subject, one verb) The singer bowed her head to her adoring audience. Compound Sentence (two independent clauses joined by a conjunction or a semicolon) The singer bowed to the audience, but she sang no encores. Go and speak.

Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex Complex Sentence (one independent, one or more subordinate clauses) When I heard the concert, I enjoyed it because she sang beautifully. When I really understand grammar and when I actually put it to use, my grades in English will improve. (two dependent clauses, one independent clause) Compound-Complex (two or more independent and one or more subordinate clauses) The singer bowed while the audience applauded, but she sang no encores. Where you go I will go, and where you dwell I will dwell.

Sentence Patterns: Natural, Inverted, Split Order Natural Order-the subject comes first followed by the predicate. –Oranges grow in California. Inverted Order (Sentence Inversions)-the predicate comes before the subject. –In California grow oranges. Split Order- the predicate is divided into two parts with the subject coming in the middle. –In California oranges grow. (Syntax)

Syntax Continued Juxtaposition-a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise. –The apparition of those faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough… Repetition- a device in which words sounds, and ideas are used more than once for the purpose of enhancing the rhythm and creating emphasis. –… government of the people, by the people, for the people… Rhetorical Question-a question which expects no answer used to draw attention to a point and is usually stronger than a direct statement. –If Chase is always right, as you have said, why did he fail the writing exam?