ENGLISH LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES Alliteration Definition Example A repetition

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES

Alliteration Definition Example ■ A repetition of sounds that are similar ■ The sun sizzled softly in the afternoon ■ Are generally consonants and will appear at the beginning of words ■ The waves washed wistfully against the shores ■ The parched pavement peeled in the hot summer sun

Analogy Definition ■ Is a comparison where an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it ■ Aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar Example ■ How a doctor diagnoses diseases is like how a detective investigates crimes ■ You are as annoying as nails on a chalkboard ■ Just as a caterpillar comes out of its cocoon, so we must come out of our comfort zone

Cliché Definition Example ■ You may have heard someone say a cliché before ■ In the nick of time ■ Lasted an eternity ■ Frightened to death ■ Are a technique of expression ■ Waking up on the wrong side of the bed ■ People are able to get the gist of its meaning ■ All is well that ends well ■ Every cloud has a silver lining

Colloquialism Definition ■ Vary from region to region ■ Used in informal language Example ■ To bamboozle ■ Wanna ■ Gonna ■ Y’all ■ Go nuts

Emotive language Definition ■ Relate to or refer to emotions ■ Adjectives and adverbs are often used Example ■ I am very happy that you decided to come ■ Drink Coco-Cola, you’ll love it ■ This ghastly idea must be stopped ■ The girl was skipping joyfully

Hyperbole Definition ■ Use of exaggeration or overstating in order to get a point across ■ Used for dramatic effect Example ■ “I have told you a million times!” ■ “My feet are killing me!” ■ “worked my fingers to the bone!” ■ “was dying to see”

Imperative Definition ■ The imperative is a grammatical mood that forms commands or requests, including the giving of prohibition or permission, or any other kind of advice or exhortation. Example ■ Please be quiet ■ Stand up straight ■ Take that chewing gum out of your mouth

Metaphor Definition Example ■ Used to compare two like things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’ ■ He was a speeding bullet ■ A metaphor is there to make an even stronger image in the reader's head by describing a place, subject or object as something unlikely ■ A sea of trouble ■ Drowning in debt ■ The world is your oyster

Onomatopoeia Definition Example ■ A word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound it describes ■ James whacked the cricket ball ■ It is common with animal sounds but has expanded to sounds made by other sources ■ Janey bounced around on the pogo stick – boing, boing ■ Bees were buzzing around the garden

Oxymoron Definition ■ Two words that are close together that contradict each other ■ Shows contrast Example ■ Same difference ■ Smart fool ■ Awfully pretty ■ Liquid gas ■ Original copies ■ Seriously funny

Personification Definition Example ■ Uses human characteristics to describe things that are not human, such as: animals, ideas or objects ■ My flowers were begging for water. ■ The ivy wove its fingers around the fence. ■ The thunder was grumbling like it was angry. ■ Hail pounded the houses and streets. ■ Gives a more detailed image in the mind of the reader ■ The cactus saluted those who drove past.

Rhetorical questions Definition ■ Questions where an answer is not expected ■ Usually questions that make a responder think about a point, or question that is so obvious Example ■ Does a fish have lips? ■ How am I supposed to live without you? ■ Are you for real?

Simile Definition ■ Figure of speech that makes a comparison ■ Shows similarities between two different things Example ■ He is as funny as a monkey ■ Our soldiers are as brave as lions ■ Her cheeks are red like a rose ■ He is as cunning as a fox ■ Uses word “like” or “as” ■ John is as slow as a snail

Superlatives Definition ■ A superlative is used to indicate an extreme or unsurpassed level of emotions, association, or hatred for an object or a person or even an event. ■ Used by adding ‘est’ to an adjective Example ■ My cousin is the tallest among the giants ■ My car is the fastest we’ve ever had

“My Home…” Write a 150/200 word article about your home town. Include as many of the language techniques you have learned today as you can. 2 points for every technique (underline them please). Maximum – 28 points. Alliteration Metaphor Analogy Onomatopoeia Cliché Oxymoron Colloquialism Personification Emotive language Rhetorical Question Hyperbole Simile Imperative Superlatives