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Key Terms for English Language - Sounds

You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:

Alliteration

Alliteration

  • The same letter or sound at the beginning of words next to each other.
  • Please note, these are the same sounds, not necessarily the same letters (e.g. 'c' and 'k' may sound the same in some words).
    • E.g. The beautiful blue ocean blinked at the sun.
Assonance

Assonance

  • When two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds.
    • E.g. Although she was frail, she had a grace that trailed her everywhere.
Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

  • When the way the word sounds imitates the sound it is describing.
    • E.g. Bang, crash, sizzle.
Sibilance

Sibilance

  • A specific form of alliteration, which focuses on 's' sounds.
  • It relies on the repetition of soft consonant sounds in words to create a wooshing or hissing sound in the writing. The sounds used include 's', 'sh', 'c' and 'ch'.
    • E.g. The shark shot through the water, charging towards the shore.
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Key Terms

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Language Techniques

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Paper 1: Reading

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Paper 1: Writing

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Paper 2: Reading

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Paper 2: Writing

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