Diction

Diction: an author's word choice All authors choose particular words to create an effect.

3 Levels of Diction *Elevated or Formal *Neutral *Low or Informal

Elevated Diction (Formal Diction) highly formal language (most people would say it sounds “smart”), *polysyllabic words (words with multiple syllables) *no contractions *no slang * serious tone *effect: creates separation between writer and audience Example from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter: “Discerning the impracticable state of the poor culprit’s mind, the elder clergyman, who had carefully prepared himself for the occasion, addressed to the multitude a discourse on sin, in all its branches, but with continual reference to the ignominious letter.”

Neutral Diction uses standard language and vocabulary without elaborate words *monosyllabic words (words with 1 syllable) *popular vocabulary (what most people would say) *casual tone *may use contractions Example from Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea: The shark swung over and the old man saw his eye was not alive and then he swung over once again, wrapping himself in two loops of the rope. The old man knew that he was dead but the shark would not accept it.

Low or Informal Diction is the language of everyday use Low or Informal Diction is the language of everyday use! It is relaxed and conversational. * monosyllabic words * casual tone *slang * contractions *effect: creates a sense of familiarity between writer and audience Example from Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye: Three quarts of milk. That’s what was in that icebox yesterday. Three whole quarts. Now they ain’t none. Not a drop. I don’t mind folks coming in and getting what they want, but three quarts of milk!

Concrete vs Abstract Diction Concrete diction- specific words that describe physical qualities or conditions (you could see/touch it). Example from Toni Morrison: “The tears came fast, and she held her face in her hands. When something soft and furry moved around her ankles, she jumped and saw it was a cat.” Abstract diction- language that represents ideas, emotions, conditions, or concepts. Example from Joseph Conrad, who uses the words, “Incredible, inscrutable, inconceivable, and unfathomable.”

Connotation and Denotation Denotation- the literal meaning of a word (dictionary definition of a word) Example: the denotation of home is a place where one lives Connotation- the emotions attached to a word Example: the connotation of home is positive and warm; it’s a place where one belongs (Words will have either a POSITIVE or a NEGATIVE connotation)

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Euphony vs Cacophony Euphony: words that sound pleasant together * achieved through the use of vowel sounds example: “The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.”-Lord Tennyson Cacophony: words that jar against one another * produced by combinations of words that require a staccato, explosive delivery (like k, t, p). example: “With throats unslaked, with black lips baked” –Coleridge (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Method for discerning diction: 1 Method for discerning diction: 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic?

Practice “Peep the style and the way the cops sweat us The number one question is can the Feds get us I got vendettas in dice games against ass betters and niggaz who pump wheels and drive Jettas” -Jay Z “Brooklyn’s Finest” Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? Is the diction concrete or abstract? What is the denotation of the word? What is the connotation of the word? Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic?

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” -William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “I want your ugly I want your disease I want your everything As long as it’s free I want your love Love-love-love I want your love” -Lady GaGa, “Bad Romance” 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “I see no changes, all I see is racist faces Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races We under I wonder what it takes to make this One better place, let's erase the wasted Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right 'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight And only time we chill is when we kill each other It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other” -Tupac Shakur, “Changes” 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “Get stewed. Books are a load of crap.” –Philip Larkin, “A Study of Reading Habits” 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “A man that is born falls into a dream like a man who falls into the sea. If he tries to climb out into the air as inexperienced people endeavor to do, he drowns.” -Joseph Conrad 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “You know it has all been planned The quartet of deliverance rides A sinner once a sinner twice No need for confession now Cause now you have got the fight of your life” -Metallica, “The Four Horsemen” 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “The devil opened up his case and he said: "I'll start this show." And fire flew from his fingertips as he resined up his bow. And he pulled the bow across his strings and it made an evil hiss. Then a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.” -Charlie Daniels, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” 1. Is the diction elevated, neutral, or informal? 2. Is the diction concrete or abstract? 3. What is the denotation of the word? 4. What is the connotation of the word? 5. Is the diction euphonic or cacophonic? (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Homework Step 1: Download the lyrics to your favorite song Step 2: Underline the words of the song you find important in terms of the writer’s choice of diction Step 3: Analyze the author’s use of diction (questions #1-5) and explain WHY you think the author made these choices in diction. (c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.