Medducation: Language, Literature & Life
The (Literary) DICTIONary defintion of 'Diction':
When we are discussing
literature, 'diction' refers to
the specific word (or series of
words) the author, speaker or character chooses to use.
A writer could call a rock formation by many words--a stone, a boulder, an outcropping, a pile of rocks, a cairn, a mound, or even an "anomalous geological feature." The analytical reader then faces tough questions. Why that particular choice of words? What is the effect of that diction? The word choice a writer makes determines the reader's reaction to the object of description, and contributes to the author's style and tone.
It is also possible to separate diction into high or formal diction, which involves elaborate, technical, or polysyllabic vocabulary and careful attention to the proprieties of grammar, and low or informal diction, which involves conversational or familiar language, contractions, slang, elision, and grammatical errors designed to convey a relaxed tone.
Concrete Diction:
Concrete diction is very much like it sounds. If you think of concrete, you think of poured cement that becomes a fairly
'permanent' part of the environment once it is
poured. When you see concrete, it's easy to
notice. You can point out its gray, rock-like
appearance and strength and you can
continuallycome back to do so (until the
concrete finally erodes after decades of
use/abuse).
Concrete diction is a term that refers to
words that take on some of these key concrete-like traits. Words that are described as 'concrete' stand the test of time and they refer directly to something you can experience with the sences.
Abstract Diction:
Abstract diction refers to words that aren't really 'real'. You may feel them or think them, but you can't really point out a source of abstract diction. They are words that you can't experience with your five sences.
Emotions are one of the most significant 'abstract' words. This is because emotions are personal. While everyone gets 'angry' and everyone 'loves' something, the way we experience these emotions is not universal. Everyone experiences these feelings differently based on their mental state, how they view the world, and on what's happening in their social network.
Because there is nothing you can see, taste, touch, smell or hear, abstract words are very often described in a figurative comparison (so people know how you are feeling and why) and form the core of symbolism, metaphor and figurative language.
THE OFFICIAL 'LITERARY DICTIONARY'
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm
This is the dictionary to use when you want to know what any word means in relation to English Literature.
THE OFFICIAL DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE:
Denotation:
(The Dictionary Definition)
When someone refers to 'the denotation of a word' or to what a word 'denotes', they just want to know what the most common dictionary definition of the word (or words) is.
Connotation:
(The Other Social or 'Slang' Meaning)
Whenever someone asks about the 'connotation' of a word, they want to know the other meaning that society, groups, or individuals put into specific diction.
People wanting to know more about connotation are likely to look to resources like the urbandictionary.com (which is blocked by school Internet filters) for their answers.
Abstract Diction Vs. Concrete Diction:
This short video, while goofy,
helps dig a bit deeper into the
differences between abstract and
concrete diction.
Think carefully about the nature of
both types of words (and why we need
to understand them) as you watch the
video. And remember, if you can see
it, smell it, touch it, taste it, or hear it,
you are dealing with something 'concrete'.
If you are referring to something that doesn't actually exist (like an emotion or an idea), then you are working with abstract diction.
