Diction and Tone

1. Diction and Tone ESL 015 Wenli Zhang

2. What’s your understanding of this sentence? “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. ”

3. Diction What is diction? • What is good diction? Precise and appropriate --- the words mean exactly what the writer intends, and the words are well suited to the writer’s subject, purpose, and intended audience Diction refers to a writer’s choice and use of words

4. Denotation VS. Connotation What is denotation? any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions Denotation: literal meaning --- dictionary definition E.g. snake

5. What is connotation? evil or danger Connotation: secondary meaning --- associations or emotional overtones that words have acquired (tone and attitude) E.g. snake

6. How to choose among different synonyms? Tip: Deciding which to use depends largely on the connotations. E.g. mob, crowd, multitude, bunch ---- There was a _______ at the lecture.

7. Questions need to be considered Is the language abstract or concrete? Should I use general or specific word? When to use jargons? Is the diction formal or informal?

8. Abstract vs. Concrete Love, soda, wisdom, pretty, pancake, freedom, moral, spoon, table, success Abstract words --- things nobody can touch, see, or hear. (opinions or ideas) Concrete words --- things can touch, see, hear, smell, and taste (facts)

9. Tips Concrete Words unconvincing and tiresome Abstract Words Concrete Words mundane and dry Abstract Words

10. Good Writing Abstract Words Concrete Words You cannot argue about concrete things (facts)

11. General & Specific Words E.g. Drug / Marijuana Topic? Thesis? Why? General & Specific words --- context E.g. Food > dessert > chocolate cream pie When to use which?

12. What are jargons? Jargon (technical language) --- special vocabulary of a trade or profession

13. When to use jargons? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2odtqcZRKc0 • If the audience is general ---- ? • If readers are executives/ experts/ people in the same fields ---- ? • Always think about your audience!

14. Shabtis These small blue figures are called shabtis (pronounced shabtees). They are made of faience, a type of glazed pottery. Shabtis were believed to help people who died. They were placed in tombs to be servants in the afterlife, working for the dead. Hundreds of shabtis have been found in kings’ tombs. These shabtis are holding hoes used by farmers for digging. They are standing like wrapped mummies, ready to work in the afterlife. (MFA Magazine) Johnstone, 2008 Mummy Mask of Paser One assumes that the mummy of Paser, which has not survived to this day, was clad in a cartonnage ensemble, to which this mask belonged. The features are idealizing and not to be regarded as a likeness, or portrait, of Paser. The mummy, once enveloped in that ensemble, was doubtless placed into Paser’s anthropoid sarcophagus which is on display in this gallery as well. The gilding has a distinctly reddish hue and recalls contemporary ancient Egyptian texts from the New Kingdom which mention “the gold which bled.” It is apparent, therefore, that the ancient Egyptians recognized this property of their gold and appreciated it. (Informational wall placard)

15. Formal or Informal? E.g. This guy, Hewson, right, he says that people that speak English, like native speakers, don’t think about when to use words like ‘the’, they just do it. Hewson (1972, p. 132) has called the English article system a ‘psychomechanism’, through which native speakers use articles correctly but unconsciously. (Miller, JL 2005, ‘Most of ESL students have trouble with the articles’, International Education Journal , ERC2004 Special Issue, vol., 5, no. 5, pp. 80-88) Formal language is usually used in speeches; reports, essays, and most other nonfiction writings. Informal language is more generally used in everyday language --- slang or idioms

16. Activity Time Group of three Each group will get a worksheet. Finish the worksheet together

17. Tone • Tone and mood words. What is tone? Tone is the attitude a writer takes towards the subject and the audience. It is revealed through diction.

18. Tip for you ALWAYS use an adjective when describing diction and tone.____ diction contributes to the ____ tone.

19. Activity Two • Group of four or three • One handout for each group • Think about those questions: • What kind of tone does each author try to convey? • What kind of diction does each author use to try to contribute to a certain tone?