Diction is the writer’s choice of words and phrases and how those phrases convey their story. Depending on the type of diction used, colloquial, abstract, etc., the chosen concept, idea, point of view, or plot is going to be more or less effectively conveyed.
a
- Abstract DictionAbstract diction occurs when the poet wants to express something ephemeral, or ungraspable.
c
- Colloquial DictionColloquial diction is conversational in nature and can be seen through the use of informal words that represent a specific place or time.
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- Formal DictionFormal diction is used when the setting is sophisticated. This could be anything from a speech, to a paper submitted to a journal.
p
- PalimpsestPalimpsests are reused pieces of parchment, traditionally made from calf, lamb, or goat skin. The original writing was carefully washed or scraped away, allowing the parchment—whether scroll or bound book—to be used again for new text, often leaving faint traces of what came before.
- Poetic DictionPoetic diction refers to the distinctive language, vocabulary, and style used in poetry to create aesthetic effects and convey layered meanings. Unlike everyday speech, poetic diction often emphasizes heightened language, rhythm, metaphor, and tone to evoke emotion and thought.
s
- Slang DictionSlang diction contains words that are very specific to a region and time, and have been recently coined.
- Speaker in PoetryThe speaker in a piece of poetry is the narrator of the work. It could be the poet, an imagined character, a creature or even an object.
