Language Devices
Terms & Definitions for Famous Speeches
Repetition: Repeating a word or phrase, either to draw extra attention or to emphasise the importance of it.
Analogy: A comparison of two things, based on the similarities between them; in this case, telling a story with a similar sort of message in order to make a related point clear.
Rhetorical Questioning: Questions that the speaker might ask, but which do not actually require an answer. Rhetorical questions are used to make the audience think a little more about the point being made.
Appealing to the Crowd: Can be a question or a statement that seeks support in some way from the audience.
Metaphor: The merging of two elements or ideas, where one is used to modify the meaning of the other (where something is said to be something else)
Simile: A comparison between two things where one thing is said to be “like” or “as” another.
Personification: When non-living things, objects and concepts are given human characteristics.
Alliteration: Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in close succession.
Assonance: Repetition of the same vowel sound in a sentence to create internal rhyming.
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate or suggest the sound that they are describing (Bang, splash, pop, whoosh, etc).
…and remember to also look for:
Elements of Voice: Volume, pitch, tone, pace, pause, clarity.
Non-Verbal Techniques: Stance, gesture, facial expression, eye contact.
Punctuation Examples:
A woman; without her, man is nothing.
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
(Nice Gloria) Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, and thoughtful. People, who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy. Will you let me be yours?
Gloria
(Mean Gloria) Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are
Repetition: Repeating a word or phrase, either to draw extra attention or to emphasise the importance of it.
Analogy: A comparison of two things, based on the similarities between them; in this case, telling a story with a similar sort of message in order to make a related point clear.
Rhetorical Questioning: Questions that the speaker might ask, but which do not actually require an answer. Rhetorical questions are used to make the audience think a little more about the point being made.
Appealing to the Crowd: Can be a question or a statement that seeks support in some way from the audience.
Metaphor: The merging of two elements or ideas, where one is used to modify the meaning of the other (where something is said to be something else)
Simile: A comparison between two things where one thing is said to be “like” or “as” another.
Personification: When non-living things, objects and concepts are given human characteristics.
Alliteration: Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in close succession.
Assonance: Repetition of the same vowel sound in a sentence to create internal rhyming.
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate or suggest the sound that they are describing (Bang, splash, pop, whoosh, etc).
…and remember to also look for:
Elements of Voice: Volume, pitch, tone, pace, pause, clarity.
Non-Verbal Techniques: Stance, gesture, facial expression, eye contact.
Punctuation Examples:
A woman; without her, man is nothing.
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
(Nice Gloria) Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, and thoughtful. People, who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy. Will you let me be yours?
Gloria
(Mean Gloria) Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are