English
Lesson Notes
Diction
1
LESSON
Teacher Guide
Words, words, words
This lesson defines diction and explores how the choice of words can affect meaning. We look at how words
help to create emotive impact and how they help us to write accurately.
Lesson Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
• define diction
•comment on the relationship between diction,
context, tone and source
Curriculum Links
LO 4: Language
•identify and explain the meanings of words and
use them correctly in a range of texts
Lesson notes
Diction refers to the words a writer chooses to express meaning.
What diction can
indicate
Diction can help to
indicate the origin or
source of a text.
An example
What the diction tells us
A magnificent home
of staggering beauty
and elegance.
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•
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Diction helps convey
tone or the emotions
and underlying
feelings of the writer.
Her warm gaze
invited him to reach
over and touch her
glowing cheek.
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•
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Diction can help to
indicate the context
in which a text was
created.
Diction can create
atmosphere very
effectively by helping
your reader to
understand how you
felt in the situation
you are describing.
?
At the time of the
invasion of German
South West Africa,
there was a small
white population of
only 15 000.
•
Brave the mists as
you climb the steep
Westcliff slopes and
indulge in a decadent
high tea of irresistible
treats.
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The descriptions that have been used, “magnificent home” and
“staggering beauty and elegance” sound insincere and gushy.
The words chosen are meant to make us, the readers, desire this
house more.
From the diction we can guess that the source of the text is an
advertisement, and possibly an estate agency’s description.
The words “warm gaze”, “invited” and “glowing cheek” suggest that this
text has been taken from a romance novel.
The choice of these words gives us a sense of the emotion of the
characters.
The writer uses words to convey a romantic, loving tone.
Namibia is referred to as “German South West Africa” in this extract.
Because an historical name is used, we can guess that this is a history
text.
The word “invasion” has negative connotations indicating that the writer
disagrees with the invasion of German South West Africa.
The word “white” was used to describe a population according to its
race. Racial descriptions are less common in texts now, so we can
guess that the text was written in the latter part of the 20th Century.
This text creates an image of being high up on a balcony eating
absolutely delicious food. The atmosphere of this text is luxurious and
glamorous.
The following diction helps to create the atmosphere: “brave” suggests
excitement and adventure; “indulge” means to treat yourself and
“decadent” and “irresistible treats” make us think of delicious, luxurious
food.
TASK
Which is the most likely source of the following sentence? Provide reasons for your answer.
Its speed is unequalled on the road.
A. a newspaper report
B. a fashion magazine
C. a romance novel
D. a motoring review
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