Language & Literary Devices

the spoken form of a language specific to a certain region or people which is slightly different from the standard form in words and grammar

A dialect is a variety of a language spoken by a particular group of people, characterized by unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

(linguistics) the way in which words and phrases are arranged to form grammatical sentences in a language

In linguistics, syntax refers to the rules that govern the structure of sentences, determining how words are arranged to convey meaning.

(in the grammar of some languages) a group of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives changing in the same way to indicate case, number, and gender

In Latin, nouns and adjectives undergo various changes in form called declensions based on their role in a sentence."

the patterns of stress and intonation in a language

(grammar) to show how a verb changes depending on number, person, tense, etc.

In Spanish class, we learned how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense.

the layer of air near the earth is cooler than an overlying layer

the grammatical case used for a noun or pronoun that functions as the direct object of a verb

In "She saw him," "him" is in the accusative case.

(in the grammar of some languages) the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that is used when addressing a particular person or thing

"O captain, my captain" is an example of the vocative in English poetry.

the case expressing ownership

‌(of verbs) a form or mood that represents possibility, doubt, or wishes

Understanding the subjunctive is crucial for forming complex sentences in French.

(grammar) a specific form of a pronoun, adjective, or noun that is used to show by what means or by whom an action is done or to indicate the source of the action, found in some languages such as Latin or Sanskrit

The teacher explained that "in the city" would be in the ablative to indicate location.

(grammar) a specific form of a pronoun, adjective, or noun that shows the place of an action or where a person or thing is

Russian uses the locative after certain prepositions to show location.

(grammar) describing an adjective or noun following a linking verb and completing the meaning of the copula

"She is happy" is an example of a predicative construction.

a grammatical case used for the subject of a sentence or clause

The nominative in Russian marks the subject of a sentence or clause.

(grammar)(of a noun or adjective) joined directly to a noun and modifying it, without a linking verb

In "the green apple," "green" is an attributive modifying "apple."

(grammar) the mood of a verb that states a fact

The indicative in English is used for straightforward statements and questions.

a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

(grammar) a gender of words that are neither masculine nor feminine

Understanding noun genders, including neuter, is important in language learning.

to attach or fasten something to another object or surface

She affixes a stamp to each envelope before mailing the letters.

the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of the words in a verse or sentence, used as a literary device

The poet employed alliteration to create a melodic effect in the verse.

a form of humor in which the words that someone says mean the opposite, producing an emphatic effect

His irony was so sharp that some people didn’t realize he was mocking them.

a statement that implies or indirectly mentions something or someone else, especially as a literary device

Her comment about "meeting her Waterloo" was an allusion to Napoleon's final defeat, implying she faced an insurmountable challenge.

humor, irony, ridicule, or sarcasm used to expose or criticize the faults and shortcomings of a person, government, etc.

Satire in literature often challenges societal norms and conventions.

a word or expression that is used instead of a harsh or insulting one in order to be more tactful and polite

"Between jobs" is a euphemism for being unemployed.

a comparison between two different things, done to explain the similarities between them

Emma employed the analogy of a river flowing downstream to illustrate the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

logical and consistent, forming a unified and clear whole, especially in arguments, theories, or policies

The plot of the novel was coherent, with all the events and characters contributing to a unified storyline.

the study of the origins and historical developments of words and their meanings

Linguists trace the etymology of "vocabulary" back to Latin "vocabulum," meaning word.

(of people) unable to express oneself clearly or easily

The interviewee appeared nervous and inarticulate, stumbling over his responses.

the redundant repetition of an idea using different words in a sentence or phrase

"ATM machine" is a classic example of a tautology, as the "M" already stands for "machine."

based on reasonable and practical considerations rather than theory

In the face of budget constraints, the manager took a pragmatic approach, prioritizing cost-effective solutions.

the science and study of speech sounds and their production

Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies the sounds of human speech, including their production, transmission, and reception.

the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, often represented by a specific symbol in phonetic notation

In linguistics, a phoneme is the smallest distinctive sound unit in a language that can change the meaning of a word.

(linguistics) the smallest meaningful unit of a language that does not necessarily stand alone and cannot be divided

In linguistics, a morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning or grammatical function in a language.

(linguistics) a basic linguistic unit that is meaningful and underlies a set of words which are related through inflection

A lexeme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language, encompassing both a word and all its inflected forms.

a variant pronunciation of a phoneme, which can occur due to phonetic differences in specific contexts or environments within a language

In phonetics, an allophone is a variant form of a phoneme, which occurs in specific phonetic environments.

(grammar) the act of omitting a word or words from a sentence, when the meaning is complete and the omission is understood from the context

The author used an ellipsis to suggest a pause or unfinished thought in the dialogue.

each of two or more words with the same spelling or pronunciation that vary in meaning and origin

It's essential to consider context when deciphering the meaning of a homonym in a sentence.

(grammar) one of two or more words with the same pronunciation that differ in meaning, spelling or origin

The homophones "piece" and "peace" are frequently confused by new English learners.

(phonetics) a gliding speech sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable

In English, the diphthong "oi" is heard in words like "coin" and "join."

a word that mimics the sound it represents

"Buzz," "hiss," and "moo" are examples of onomatopoeia used to mimic natural sounds.