Language Techniques Every Student Must Know

The English language serves as a vast reserve of devices, terms and techniques
to enhance the quality of a write-up. Naturally, students are often encouraged
to become familiar with Literary techniques. That said, these literary
techniques can be tough specifically because of the sheer volume they come
in.

In fact, you may become dumbfounded trying to decipher the definition of

each of these literary conventions. On that note, we have created a precise list
of features of all the language techniques, along with pertinent examples to go
with each one.
 Alliteration

 Alliteration is a technique that involves the application of multiple words,

each beginning with a similar sounding letter.

 This figure of speech is often discovered in marketing content, newspaper

headlines and branding because it’s memorable. It helps in retaining the
concept in the minds of the audience.

In a literary context, it’s often employed in poetry to express a specific feeling. The
author generally draws the reader’s attention on a certain section of a text by giving it a
certain rhythm and by applying specific connotation.
The following are some pertinent examples of this literary device.

1. O wild west wind thou breath of Autumn’s being

2. Tiger, Tiger, burning bright

Connotation

 A word or phrase that comes with an underlying meaning or provokes

thoughts for a deeper understanding has “connotations.”

 Words may have negative or positive connotations based on the cultural,

social, and personal experiences of different individuals.

 For instance, the word “white” comes with the connotations of peace,
purity, good, cleanliness, and innocence.
 Hyperbole

 The origin of this term is traced back to a Greek word that means “over-
casting” emphasizing on the exaggeration of ideas.

 For instance, when you chance upon an acquaintance after a long time, you
say, “It’s been ages since we’ve met.”

Now you may not have met since only a couple of days but the use of the term “ages”
exaggerates this statement to emphasise wait. Hyperbole is an unrealistic exaggeration
to highlight the real situation.
Litotes

 Litotes originates from a Greek word meaning “simple.”

 It’s a literary technique that involves presenting an understatement through

the use of double negatives.

 For instance, the expression “not too bad” in place of “very good” indicates
an understatement. It’s also a double negative statement, which conveys a
positive idea by countering the opposite idea.
Pathetic Fallacy

 Pathetic fallacy is a literary convention in which human emotions are

designated to different aspects of nature, like the weather.

 It’s a variant of personification, which is another extremely prevalent

literary device in English literature.

 Pathetic fallacy is often connected only with the attribution of human

emotions to different elements of nature (sun, wind, sky, etc.)

 For example, the weather can be employed to reflect an individual’s mood,

with rain or dark clouds present in a narrative that involves sorrow.
In Robert Browning’s Porphyria’s Lover, the narrator talks about the wind as sullen and
destroying trees out of anger.

“The sullen wind was soon awake,

It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
and did its worst to vex the lake.”
Aside

 An aside is a technique possessing a strong significance in plays for a long time.

 This involves a character directly talking to the audience (without the other
characters within the narrative being able to hear).

 It is often applied in a comical sense to gossip or make a comment about another

character without their knowledge.

 Some films also make use of this method, with a character staring directly into
the camera to talk to the audience. This is popularly known as ‘breaking the
fourth wall.’
Onomatopoeia

 This literary device refers to words that replicate the natural sounds of a
thing (both living or non-living).

 It presents a sound effect that imitates the object described, which makes
the description more appealing and attractive.

 “Gushing stream” can be a pertinent example, and so are most of the

words we use to describe animal noises, such as “hiss,” “meow,” etc.
Here’s A Good Example Of Onomatopoeia.

1. I lay awake to the sound of rustling leaves.

2. The stack of papers fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Allegory

 Allegory is a language technique in which abstract principles and theories are

defined in terms of figures, characters, and events.

 It can be adopted in prose and poetry to narrate a story.

 Allegory lends a multidimensional form to their stories and characters. This way,
they stand for something broader in meaning than what they literally stand for.

 This example from the Oxforddisctionaries.com is a perfect specimen of an

allegory: Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegorical representation of the spiritual
journey.
Irony

 Irony is a technique in which words are used in a way that their intended
meaning differs from the original meaning of the words.

 It could also be a situation that ends up in a different way than is usually

anticipated. Simply put, it is a distinction between appearance and reality.

 Irony can be categorized as situation and verbal. Verbal irony denotes what
one does not mean. For instance, as a response to a foolish idea, we often say,
“What an excellent idea!”
Conclusion

Now that you have gained a little perspective on these techniques,

make sure to implement them appropriately within your written pieces
and assignments. That way you will be able to impress your professor
to award you some brownie points.
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