Elevate Your Script with 30+ Exceptional Language Techniques

Definition

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It is a stylistic device where two consecutive words or terms that are in close proximity begin with the same consonant sound.

This repetition of sounds can create rhythm, emphasis and mood in a piece of script.

"The big bad bludger banged against his broom" The author has used the 'b' sound again and again to create a rhythmic and emphatic effect.

Definition

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It is a name you give to the repetition of a word or term at the start of a sentence or sentence.

It is used to create a dramatic effect and also a sense of rhythm within your writing.

 It will be the tallest building/No, it will be the most picturesque cottage. The author tells about the dream of a perfect home. The use of 'no' and 'will' alternately capture a dream of a place that is quiet and calm.

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It is an immersive, personal story or tale that you often use to develop specific ideas or to add gravitas and personality to the characters.

It is used to give value to a text to hint towards certain traits of a character's story.

When I was 10, and my name was Ellen Wales...

This example shows a personal anecdote to create a deep sense of the personal in her reflection on time.

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Hyperbole is another language technique to exaggerate statements that might lead to drama.

Emphasizes the impact or feeling of a situation by taking it beyond reality. Often created with metaphor. 

“She smiles an eternal smile” - in “Mother”, Vuong emphasizes the impact his mother had on him with the notion that her influence is ‘eternal', with no beginning and no end.

Definition

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These are those words when two terms or phrases that come in a sentence share the same vowel sound, but the consonants are different.

It creates a soft resonance or a bad rhyme and also provides a flow to the text.

'Make sure to go slowly over the road bumps'. In this sentence, the long 'o' sound is to elongate the rhythm and evoke a sense of caution.

Definition

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It is defined by using words of feelings and is caused by other techniques also, including sensory imagery.

It is used to create a mood in the piece.

'Its silhouette reminds me of love/ the comfort of the sea and landmass'. In it, the author talks about the overall atmosphere of a vacuum and a world to transport the reader.

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It describes the characteristics and actions of the people in a text and how they are added to the drivers of actions.

It is used to understand the personality of the characters, their motivations, and relations and to ensure they feel real and relatable.

'He was a savage and a beast in the boardroom during meetings'.

This example reveals the personality traits of the person when he is conducting meetings.

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These are terms that are used to create a sense of unity between groups and individuals.

It is used to show the connection between the author and the audience or to represent a collective group unity.

Without this man, the landmass and the rights of the people would never have seen the light of the day. In this example, the author talks about the people as a group and not just about himself. It shows unity at the forefront.

Definition

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A thought or feeling that a term evokes for an individual in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

These are used for a particular audience but are also split into negative and positive connotations.

'For the grey-wolf ocean lies on the sand howling'. In this example, the term 'howling' invokes pain and suffering, and it also implies that the ocean is no longer the happy place it was. in the past.

Definition

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It means when two or more events, objects, or characters directly oppose one another.

It is used to show the distinction between objects, events or characters in a text that helps to highlight their individuality.

Henry was a great boy whose jet-black hair shone in the sun. His brother, Mark, was a horrible man, and his face had a permanent frown on it.

Definition

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It is a list that grows by adding each new object to the last one. In the English language, it means the use of two or three verbs, adjectives, or nouns in a row.

This kind of list is used to create emphasis or to show diversity.

The soothing scent of perfumes/ crescendo of vehicles. This example showcases the unique diversity of a place and also evokes a clear vision.

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As the term itself suggests, it is a language that is employed to hurt or abuse a person.

It is usually directed towards a group of people or an individual to cause harm.

'He is the whitest gin in all of the surrounding land'. In this example, the term 'gin' is used in the context of racism towards a particular person.

Definition

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The words or exchanges between people spoken out loud which is generally represented by quotes and dialogue tags.

It is used to represent a quick pathway to showcase relations and characters or to jump into action.

'If you are bitten by a snake, you will swell, smell, and turn blue all over'. In this example, it is how the author speaks and his knowledge about the results of a snake bite.

Definition

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As the term suggests, you use the second person pronoun to speak or talk directly with your audience.

This type of language techniques is used to create an immediate connection with your readers that you can use to influence or sway them in your direction, especially in persuasive writing.

'You never fully know yourself or the strength of your relations until it is tested by adversity'. In this, the author directly talks with the audience or readers and the strength they have within themselves.

Definition

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It means where a sentence continues beyond the finish of a line or verse. It means running a sentence over two lines, so a split happens mid-sentence.

It is mainly used by poets to manipulate the rhythm of the poem and to create a sense of flow or continuation.

'They tried to fool me because I couldn't speak English'. The author uses this method to create a broken rhythm and also by putting the readers in the place of a speaker whose first tongue is not English.

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It is a rhetorical plea that is used in persuasive texts, and it establishes the credibility of the author.

It is generally used to create a bond or connection between the composer and the audience.

'I wish I had known at my graduation what I know today'. In this example, the person is building a connection between himself and the audience by talking about his experience studying at the same university.

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It is a language technique that is used to insert past events in order to furnish context to the present occasion of a narrative.

It is used to allow the readers to gain access to the character's motives and also provide the backdrop to the current situation.

'I have once faced the same predicament when I was younger'. In this example, you can see that the author is talking about something that happened in the past and also lets the readers know the severity of the conditions she once lived in.

Definition

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It is when a text preempts what will happen in the future through references, tone and atmosphere.

Foreshadowing is more often than not obscure and so creates feelings of suspense, and the readers get invested in the plot's details.

'Jackson describes himself as determined to prove himself the bad villain of the story'. In this example, the person's bad behaviour foreshadows the rest of the play.

Definition

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It simply means words that are specifically assigned to a profession, field of work, or skill set.

It creates specificity and can also demonstrate knowledge particular to the characters or the target demographic. It is similar to a slang.

'The words like droves, swagmen, bushwoman, yarn, etc, all denote a particular era in time.

Definition

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It is a form of figurative language that directly compares one thing to another for rhetorical effects.

It is used for better understanding and memory retention. It is also used to influence a person's opinions or viewpoints in their favour.

'Let's dig up the earth and excavate the past'. In this example, the author is trying to unpack the history and the continuous effect it has on the present.

Definition

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It is a kind of descriptive dialect device that compares two objects to build a vivid image in the minds of the readers.

It is commonly used in poems and descriptive writing, and its purpose is to let the reader imagine and understand what they are reading.

'Cool as a cucumber'. In this example, you can see that the author is trying to compare a person's personality with the coolness that is often attributed to a vegetable.

Definition

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It is a language tool where human characteristics, such as thoughts and feelings, are attributed to something non-human.

It is used to evoke empathy in humans and to make something more relatable.  

'The sun is playing hide-and-seek today'. In this example, the author compares the sun to playing a game that children often play due to cloudy weather.

Definition

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It is a rhetorical appeal that you employ in persuasive text to establish the logic of an argument or debate.

It is used to evoke trust and faith in the audience and to clarify the meaning of something.

'Today I was to 10 rules of living a fulfilled life'. In this example, you can see the author has established a clear, logical order in his speech.

Definition

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When a symbol is repeated throughout the text, it reinforces the beliefs it represents and explores.

It is employed to create a deeper meaning and understanding of the primary themes or notions.

'You can move the desk as much as you want, but the emotions it evokes in you will not change'. In this example, the author is trying to use the motif of a desk and what significance it holds.

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It is a way to paint an image for the reader. It affects all the five senses of the reader.

It is used to assist a person to imagine the taste, smell, touch, sight and sound of the scene that the writer is depicting.

'The sky, it would seem, would rain down a stinking hole'. In this example, the author attempts to create a mental image for the readers by contrasting the elements of earth with humanity.

Definition

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It is that characteristic of the English language that is much easier to use than to spell. It's a word that sounds like the noise it defines.

It is employed to generate interest and convey sound quickly in written form.

'The splash of water as it retreats'. It is the sound of the water hitting the rocks on the shoreline.

Definition

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It means that two words that are generally not linked with each other are used together.

It operates to add depth, irony, humour, or dramatic effect to your write-up or speech.

'The deafening silence in the room after the fight'. In this, the author has used both 'deafening' and silence' side by side to depict the tumultuous relationship.

Definition

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It is a rhetorical appeal often used in persuasive writing, commonly created with emotive language, sensory imagery and symbolism.

It is used to build emotions and feelings in the audience or readers.

'Only people who have known hunger know its evil'. In this, the author attempts to evoke emotions by employing powerful, emotive language.

Definition

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It means the connecting or joining of two ideas that are inherently in contradiction with each other.

It is used to create a mental clash to arrive at a new idea.

'Less is more'. In this example, the author aims to demonstrate that simplicity is preferable to complexity.

Definition

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It is a play of words where one word has a double meaning in the context of the sentence.

It is most commonly used to create humour and multiple layers of meaning.

'Grammar lovers have a lot of comma sense'. I guess there is no need for an explanation.

Definition

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When you repeat a term or phrase two or more times.

It is done to give emphasis to something and bring it to your attention.

'Time after time'. In this sentence, the author is trying to tell that something is happening repeatedly.

Definition

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When you ask a question to the audience without expecting an answer in return.

It is often used in persuasive writing to provoke a belief without inviting any form of discussion.

 'Bad female characters exist in real life, than why not in stories?'. In this example, you see the author has posed a rhetorical question without inviting any answers.

Definition

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It means when an object, location or character represents a theoretical idea.

It is used to remove abstraction and present it in a more concrete or solid way.

'A red rose is considered a symbol of love, whereas the red colour depicts anger or revenge.

Definition

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It is another form of language attribute in English. It is often seen in poems, but they do not necessarily have to rhyme, but many stick to a specific rhyme scheme.

It is used in many ways depending on how it is employed and in what manner.

'Plunder and thunder' both have two perfect rhymes because the first syllable is stressed and the letter after has the same sound.

Definition

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It is yet another method that is used in poems. Many of them maintain a steady beat known as 'metre' throughout.

Similarly to rhyme, its effects also vary depending on the text and how it is used.

A simple waltz rhythm 'one, two, three'.

Definition

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It is a term or phrase that is quite common and is overused. They are so common that they lose their original meaning and embrace another meaning.

It is used to give the readers a glimpse into the character's personality and behaviour.

'And they live happily ever after.'

Definition

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It is one of the most common features in the English language and is usually used in literature to create a dramatic effect.

They can be used to break a sentence and create an atmosphere of suspense or uncertainty.

'The window swung open, but no one was there....'. From this example, you can see there is an element of suspense.

Definition

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You can see its presence in both written and spoken dialects. It is a method in which language mocks particular aspects of human behaviour or nature.

It is used in an unkind way and is considered a very high form of humour.

Making fun of Mr. Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live is an example of satire.