Diction ( (nom. ), "a saying, expression, word"), in its original meaning, is a writer's or speaker's distinctive
vocabulary
A vocabulary (also known as a lexicon) is a set of words, typically the set in a language or the set known to an individual. The word ''vocabulary'' originated from the Latin , meaning "a word, name". It forms an essential component of languag ...
choices and style of expression in a piece of writing such as a poem or story.
[Crannell (1997) ''Glossary'', p. 406] In its common meaning, it is the distinctiveness of
speech
Speech is the use of the human voice as a medium for language. Spoken language combines vowel and consonant sounds to form units of meaning like words, which belong to a language's lexicon. There are many different intentional speech acts, suc ...
:
the art of speaking so that each word is clearly heard and understood to its fullest complexity and extremity, and concerns
pronunciation
Pronunciation is the way in which a word or a language is spoken. To
This may refer to generally agreed-upon sequences of sounds used in speaking a given word or all language in a specific dialect—"correct" or "standard" pronunciation—or si ...
and tone, rather than word choice and style. This is more precisely and commonly expressed with the term
enunciation
Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compel ...
or with its synonym,
articulation.
[Crannell (1997) Part II, Speech, p. 84]
Diction has multiple concerns, of which
register, the adaptation of style and formality to the social context, is foremost. Literary diction analysis reveals how a passage establishes
tone and characterization, e.g. a preponderance of verbs relating physical movement suggests an active character, while a preponderance of verbs relating states of mind portrays an introspective character. Diction also has an impact upon word choice and syntax.
Aristotle
Aristotle (; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, a ...
, in ''
The Poetics'' (20), defines the parts of diction () as the
letter, the
syllable
A syllable is a basic unit of organization within a sequence of speech sounds, such as within a word, typically defined by linguists as a ''nucleus'' (most often a vowel) with optional sounds before or after that nucleus (''margins'', which are ...
, the
conjunction, the
article, the
noun
In grammar, a noun is a word that represents a concrete or abstract thing, like living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, and ideas. A noun may serve as an Object (grammar), object or Subject (grammar), subject within a p ...
, the
verb
A verb is a word that generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual description of English, the basic f ...
, the
case, and the speech (), though one commentator remarks that "the text is so confused and some of the words have such a variety of meanings that one cannot always be certain what the Greek says, much less what Aristotle means."
In literature
Diction is usually judged in reference to the prevailing standards of proper writing and speech and is seen as the mark of quality of the writing. It is also understood as the selection of certain words or phrases that become peculiar to a writer or character.
;Example
:
Certain writers in the modern day and age use archaic terms such as "thy", "thee", and "wherefore" to imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work.
Forms of diction include: archaic diction (diction that is antique, that is rarely used), high diction (lofty sounding language), and low diction (everyday language). Each of these forms is meant to enhance the meaning or artistry of an author's work.
See also
*
Action (philosophy)
In philosophy, an action is something an Agency (philosophy), agent does. Actions contrast with events which merely happen to someone and are typically performed for a Goal, purpose and guided by an intention. The first question in the Action th ...
*
Description
Description is any type of communication that aims to make vivid a place, object, person, group, or other physical entity. It is one of four rhetorical modes (also known as ''modes of discourse''), along with exposition, argumentation, and narr ...
*
Elocution
Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compel ...
*
Greeting
*
Orthoepy
Orthoepy is the study of pronunciation of a particular language, within a specific oral tradition. The term is from the Greek , from () and (). The antonym is '' cacoepy'' "bad or wrong pronunciation". The pronunciation of the word ''orthoep ...
*
Poetic diction
*
Register (sociolinguistics)
In sociolinguistics, a register is a Variety (linguistics), variety of language used for a particular purpose or particular communicative situation. For example, when speaking officially or in a public setting, an English language, English speake ...
*
Speech production
*
Vocal pedagogy
References
Citations
General sources
* (preview of 1997 edition)
*
External links
*
Style and Diction€”free software by the
GNU Project
The GNU Project ( ) is a free software, mass collaboration project announced by Richard Stallman on September 27, 1983. Its goal is to give computer users freedom and control in their use of their computers and Computer hardware, computing dev ...
Diction Översättningsbyrå
{{Fiction writing
Descriptive technique
Phonetics
Poetics
Style (fiction)