Diction
What is Diction?
 The
words or phrases an author
chooses to convey effect and
meaning to the readers
 Communicates ideas and
impressions
 It evokes emotions
 Conveys authors truths and/or
agenda to the reader
Levels of Diction
 High
or Formal diction
◦ Contains language that creates an
elevated tone
◦ Free of slang, idioms, colloquialisms
and contractions
◦ Often contains polysyllabic words,
sophisticated syntax, and elegant word
choice
◦ Example: The Scarlet Letter
Example of Formal Diction

“Discerning the impracticable state of the poor
culprit’s mind, the elder clergyman, who had
carefully prepared himself for the occasion
addressed to multitude a discourse on sin, in all
its branches, but with the continual reference to
the ignonimous letter. So forcibly did he dwell
upon this symbol, for the hour or more during
which his periods were rolling over the people’s
heads, that it assumed new terrors in the
imagination, and seemed to derive its scarlet hue
from the flames of the infernal pit.”
-The Scarlet Letter
Levels of Diction
 Neutral
Diction
◦ Uses standard language and
vocabulary without elaborate words
◦ May include contractions
◦ Example: Hemingway’s The Old Man
and the Sea
Example of Neutral Diction

“The shark swung over and the old man saw his eye was
not alive and then he swung over once again, wrapping
himself in two loops of the rope. The old man knew that
he was dead but the shark would not accept it. Then, on
his back, with his tail lashing and his jaws clicking, the
shark plowed over the water as a speedboat does. The
water was white where his tail beat it and three-quarters
of his body was clear above the water when the rope
came taut, shivered, and then snapped. The shark lay
quietly for a little while on the surface and the old man
watched him. Then he went down very slowly.”
-The Old Man and the Sea
Levels of Diction
 Informal
or Low diction
◦ Language of everyday use
◦ Relaxed and conversational
◦ Includes common and simple words,
idioms, slang, colloquialisms, jargon,
and contractions
◦ Example: Toni Morrison’s The Bluest
Eye
Example of Informal Diction

“Three quarters of milk. That what was in
that icebox yesterday. Three whole quarts.
Now they ain’t none. Not a drop. I don’t
mind folks coming in and getting what
they want, but three quarts of milk! What
the devil does anybody need with three
quarts of milk?”
-The Bluest Eye
Levels of Diction
 Slang
◦ A group of recently coined words
◦ These come and go from the
language fairly quickly
◦ Example: “That jacket is ‘sick’.”
Levels of Diction
 Colloquial
Expressions
◦ Nonstandard, often regional ways of
using language
◦ Appropriate to informal or
conversational speech and writing
◦ Example: “y’all”
Levels of Diction
 Jargon
◦ Words and expressions
characteristic of a particular trade,
profession, or pursuit.
◦ Example: “Being an 11th grader is
hard! I have to take the AP exam
and the ACT, and I’m thinking of
taking the SAT!”
Levels of Diction

Dialect
◦ Nonstandard subgroup of a language
with its own vocabulary and
grammatical features
◦ Writers often use regional dialects to
reveal information about a character’s
economic or social class
◦ Mark Twain is notorious for using
regional dialects!
Types of Diction

Concrete Diction
◦ Specific words that describe physical qualities
or conditions

Abstract Diction
◦ Language that denotes ideas, emotions,
conditions, or concepts that are intangible
◦ Examples: impenetrable, incredible,
inscrutable, inconceivable,
Analyzing Diction

Denotation
◦ The exact, literal definition of a word
independent of any emotional association or
secondary meaning

Connotation
◦ The implicit rather than explicit meaning of a
word
◦ Consists of the suggestions, associations, and
emotional overtones attached to a word
Analyzing Diction

Tone is inseparable when discussing
diction
◦ Tone is the attitude or feeling that the writer’s
words express.
◦ You cannot discuss tone without discussing
diction and vice versa
◦ Authors are only able to convey their feelings
through the specific words and/or phrases that
they use
Questions When Analyzing Diction
Is the language concrete or abstract?
 Are the words monosyllabic or polysyllabic?
 Do the words have interesting connotations?
 Is the diction formal or colloquial?
 Is there any change in the level of diction in
the passage?
 What can the reader infer about the speaker
or the speaker’s attitude from the word
choice?

Answers When Analyzing Diction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Concrete?
Abstract?
Monosyllabic
words
Polysyllabic words
Formal
Colloquial
Change in type of
diction?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Childlike
Mature thinking
Intellectually
inferior
Sophisticated
Educated
Illiterate
Does this indicate
an epiphany?
Writing About Diction

ALWAYS use an adjective when describing
diction and tone.
____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

Ex: The repetitive low diction in her
comments, such as “that’s hot!” and “not
fair!”contributes to the childish tone that
permeates Paris Hilton’s interviews, thus
reinforcing the stereotype of her being a
stupid, rich girl.
Writing About Diction

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the
vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as
she told about her fiancé and their
wedding plans.
What are the specific words that create the
feeling of the sentence? What words did
the author use to create the feeling of the
sentence?
Writing About Diction

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the
vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as
she told about her fiancé and their
wedding plans.
Bouncing – lit – joyous – glow – fiancé wedding
What kind of words are these?
Writing About Diction

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with
a joyous glow on her face as she told about her
fiancé and their wedding plans.
____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.
Cheerful diction contributes to the euphoric
tone.
Or uplifting diction contributes to the joyful
tone.
Writing About Diction

She huddled in the corner, clutching her
tattered blanket and shaking convulsively,
as she feverishly searched the room for the
unknown dangers that awaited her.
____ diction contributes to the ____
tone.
The frightening diction contributes to the
alarming tone.
Writing About Diction

She lay on the couch in a white evening
dress, whispering softly in the ear of her
fiancé, running her fingers through his
hair and gently nibbling his earlobe.
____ diction contributes to the ____
tone.
The suggestive diction contributes to the
seductive tone.
Writing About Diction

Harvard accepted her, allowing this child
the opportunity to study in the same halls
as the many famous scholars before her,
giving her the chance to excel in her field in
the best college in the United States.
____ diction contributes to the ____
tone.
The lofty diction contributes to the
elevated tone.
Writing About Diction

Bursting through the door, the flustered
mother hollered uncontrollably at the
innocent teacher who gave her child an F.
____ diction contributes to the ____
tone.
The fierce diction contributes to the
antagonistic tone.
Writing About Diction

Drawing the attention of his classmates as
well as his teacher, the student dared to
experiment with his professor’s
intelligence by interrogating him about the
Bible.
____ diction contributes to the ____
tone.
The challenging diction contributes to
the confrontational tone.
Writing About Diction
And one last tip………..
Never, never, never, never, never say:
“The author uses diction.”
Do you mean – the author chooses words?
Well, duh!!!!!!
Always say:
The author uses ______(what kind of) diction….
indignant? dark? euphoric?
Describe it!!!!!!