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LANGUAGE SAMPLE
1:
DICTION / WORD CHOICE / LANGUAGE
DICTION / WORD CHOICE / LANGUAGE All three terms
have the same meaning and are used
interchangeably on the AP exam; this unit will
normally use the term “diction.” In the Detail
unit you learned about using facts, words with
no connotation. And you also learned that some
writers have an exceptional ability to write
using detail. Now you will be studying another
element, another technique of writing for which
many authors are known: this element is diction.
Diction / word choice / language include words
which do have connotation. The sentences below
show you what diction does compared to detail.
BASIC SENTENCE: Robbie reached for the
basketball.
DETAIL: Hoping to win, Robbie reached for the
ball, successfully took possession, pulled it to
his chest, looked at the basket, then aimed,
threw, and watched it make the winning point.
DICTION: Desperate to win, Robbie lunged for the
ball.
Look at the underlined words in each sentence:
Hoping to win -- little connotation; everyone
has hoped for something. It is
something that everyone does at times, but it
holds little or no connotation.
Desperate to win, however, holds much
connotation. The word "desperate" suggests much
stronger emphasis than "hoping."
The same comparison could be made for use of the
words "reached," which has no connotation, and
"lunged," which immediately brings to mind a
picture of the action of lunging. “Lunge” is
highly connotative.
CONTINUED…
The simplest way to understand diction may be to
consider the menus for different restaurants.
Think of a popular, “nice” restaurant and the
menu from there.
• Steak -- juicy rib-eye, cut-it-with-a-fork
tender, char-broiled with a hint of
mesquite and garlic; our idea of perfection
• Garlic Mashers – creamy, melt-in-your-mouth,
with a hint of butter, cheese, sour cream, and
bacon; luscious
• Temptation Chocolate Cake – devilishly
delicious; crunchy pecans in a creamy,
milk-chocolate filling, surrounded by rich,
buttery cake, crowned with yummy, deep, dark
chocolate icing; devilishly different
Diction Words: juicy, cut-it-with a fork tender,
char-broiled, hint of mesquite and garlic;
creamy, melt-in-your, hint of butter, etc.,
luscious; devilishly delicious; crunchy, creamy,
surrounded by rich, etc., crowned, deep, dark
Compare the menu above to that of a fast food
restaurant:
CONTINUED… |
