All Language Devices
English Language: AQA GCSE, topic 2.1.13
Recap: Language Devices
Let's recap all the devices you have just learned:
Alliteration
- The same letter or sound at the beginning of words near 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.
Onomatopoeia
- When the way the word sounds imitates the sound it is describing.
- E.g. Bang, crash, sizzle.
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.
Recap: Language Devices
Let's recap all the devices you have just learned:
Simile
- A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, using ‘like’ or ‘as.’
- You are comparing the qualities of the two things you are comparing.
- E.g. in the phrase 'He was as fierce as a lion', you are comparing the anger and aggression of the lion with the anger and aggression of the man you are describing.
Personification
- The attribution of human characteristics to something non-human to create imagery.
- E.g. The waves danced on the shore.
Metaphor
- A figure of speech in which you say something is another thing. You compare the qualities of two things within this.
- E.g. in 'the curtain of fog', you create the image of the fog falling down on the area as if it is a curtain being dropped over the place - this could also suggest that the fog is thick and difficult to see through.
Emotive language
- Emotive language is when language is used to create a strong emotional response – this could be any emotion, such as anger, excitement, happiness, sadness, etc.
- E.g. The sad, downcast dog drooped its little head.
Recap: Language Devices
Let's recap the language devices you have just learned:
Hyperbole
- An exaggerated statement, not meant to be taken literally, but used to create a dramatic effect.
- E.g. The whole world was watching me.
Oxymoron
- When two contrasting ideas are combined for dramatic effect or to create a comedic effect.
- E.g. Loving hate.
Pathetic fallacy
- Pathetic fallacy is when a writer gives human emotions to things that are not human, such as objects, animals or, most commonly, the weather.
- E.g. The night was unruly.
Pun
- A joke which exploits the different possible meanings of a word - it makes fun of the fact that there are other words which sound the same but have different meanings.
- E.g. In the joke, 'The best way to communicate with a fish is to drop them a line', the pun comes from the double meaning of 'a line' - it can be either a fishing rod or a telephone.
Test yourself on All Language Devices
What technique is used in this sentence?
The slippery slope was drenched with slush.What technique is used in this sentence?
The ball made a plop sound as it fell into the toilet.What technique is used in this sentence?
Harry always hated hearing from his mother.Which words are examples of onomatopoeia?
What technique is used in this sentence?
The boy was as happy as a puppy with a bone.