Emotive

language
Consider the headline: a bunch of words
carefully crafted to grab your attention when you
least expect it…
Is this headline accurate?

“Why Doesn’t America Read Anymore?” (NPR)

Emotive Language

Emotive language is the term used

when certain word choices are made to

evoke an emotional response.

Emotive language often aims to

persuade the reader or listener to share

the writer or speaker’s point of view,

using language to stimulate an emotional reaction.

Uses of Emotive Language
Emotive language can be used in a number of ways.

In spoken language it could be used within speeches,

spoken word performances, public addresses, debates and
even everyday conversation.

It is often used in creative or fictional writing to give the

reader a dynamic and engaging experience. Emotive
language is common in novels, poetry, short stories and
plays.

Emotive language can also be used in non-fiction writing,

Emotive Words
Some words evoke a strong emotional
reaction in the majority of readers or
listeners. They hold a certain weight
that is hard to ignore. Some examples
of these are: Adjectives - Appalling,
Wonderful, Heavenly, Magical and
Tragic.
This speech includes a number of examples of
emotive language. For instance:
● The phrase “I have a Dream” uses personal pronouns, inviting those
listening to share in King’s vision of a better world. This phrase is repeated
emphatically throughout the speech.
● “Brotherhood” is an abstract noun - a word describing an idea or
concept. King uses this emotive phrase to appeal to the audience’s
desire for the things that “brotherhood” denotes - acceptance, equality
and community.
● King also uses metaphorical language, describing the state of
Mississipi as ‘sweltering’ with injustice and describing the cool ‘oasis’ of
freedom that it could be. Using sensory descriptions of heat helps to
illustrate the difficulty of the struggle for civil rights, as well as
reminding his audience what they are striving for. This section of the
More Examples of Emotive Language
“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we
begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than
the one we inhabit today.”

A quote from Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America.

This speech includes a number of examples of emotive language. For instance:

● ‘Blood, sweat and tears’ is a common idiom which many people are familiar with. It conjures a
distinct vision of hard work, perseverance and sacrifice. It also inspires an emotive vision of a
shared struggle which will help to motivate and inspire the listener.
● Collective pronouns like ‘we’ help to create a personal connection with the audience. They feel
more engaged and involved with what you say as they feel you are addressing them directly.
● The phrase ‘our children’ causes the listener to think of the people that are most precious to
them - their children. This emotive phrase also includes a pronoun which is both possessive
and collective. ‘Our’ implies that these children belong to both the speaker and listener. This is
something that they share, as individuals and as a wider group - as adults, we are all
responsible for the children of the world and their future.
Emotive language
Language that appeals to the emotions.
Many students are forced to suffer the indignity
of wearing clothes that do not match their
personal style for the duration of their school
careers.