☆Language Features For English ☆

1. Meanings of Unfamiliar Words

●​ Fiction: In fictional texts, unfamiliar words may be introduced to create a certain

atmosphere, to enrich character dialogue, or to describe fictional settings. The meaning
of these words is often clarified through context or dialogue.​

○​ Effect: It enhances the world-building or adds depth to characters, encouraging

readers to engage more deeply with the text. For example, archaic or made-up
words can make the setting feel more immersive.
●​ Non-fiction: In non-fiction, unfamiliar words are typically defined explicitly or within
context to ensure clarity for the reader.​

○​ Effect: Helps the reader understand technical or complex subjects. Definitions,

glossaries, or explanations may be provided.

You can use context clues or look for root words, prefixes and suffixes to find the meaning of the
unfamiliar words.

2. Language Features (Imagery, Emotive Language)

●​ Fiction:​

○​ Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses. Fiction often uses detailed
imagery to create vivid settings or evoke emotions.​

○​ Types of imagery
■​ visual (sight)
■​ auditory (sound)
■​ olfactory (smell)
■​ gustatory (taste)
■​ tactile (touch)
■​ kinesthetic (movement)
■​ organic (internal sensations)
○​ Emotive Language: Language designed to evoke emotional responses in the
reader. It is frequently used to develop characters, themes, or the emotional tone
of the story.​
 ■​ Example: "The pain of loss was unbearable, an ache that never faded."
■​ Effect: Connects the reader emotionally to the characters or situation.
●​ Non-fiction:​

○​ Imagery: While less common in non-fiction, writers may use descriptive language
to enhance the narrative or make points clearer.
○​ Emotive Language: Often used in persuasive writing to sway the reader's
opinion.
■​ Effect: Engages the reader's emotions, which can be particularly powerful
in opinion pieces or persuasive texts
-​ Hyperbole
●​ Use: Exaggerating something to emphasize a point or create a strong effect.
●​ Effect: It can add humor, drama, or emotion to a statement, often making it more
impactful than literal language.
○​ Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
○​ Effect: This exaggeration emphasizes extreme hunger, making the sentiment
feel stronger and more vivid

-​ .Irony
●​ Use: Saying the opposite of what is meant, or a situation where the outcome is opposite
to what is expected.
●​ Effect: It can add humor, highlight absurdity, or provoke thought about an unexpected
outcome.
○​ Example: A fire station burns down (situational irony).
○​ Effect: The unexpected nature of the event causes surprise and makes the
reader reflect on the unpredictability of life.
-​ Anaphora
●​ Use: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
●​ Effect: It creates rhythm, emphasis, and emotional appeal. It can make a speech or
piece of writing more persuasive or memorable.
○​ Example: "We will fight for justice. We will fight for equality. We will fight for
freedom."
○​ Effect: The repetition emphasizes the resolve and unity of the speaker, building
momentum and stirring the audience.
-​ Rhetorical Questions
●​ Use: Asking a question where the answer is either obvious or not expected to be
answered.
●​ Effect: It engages the reader, provokes thought, and can emphasize a point or highlight
an issue.
○​ Example: "Who doesn’t want to be successful?"
○​ Effect: The reader is prompted to reflect on their own desires and is led to agree
with the speaker's point.
-​ Allusion
●​ Use: A reference to a well-known person, event, place, or work of art.
●​ Effect: It makes the text more meaningful by drawing on the shared knowledge and
cultural context of the audience.
○​ Example: "He was a real Romeo with the ladies."
○​ Effect: The reference to Romeo suggests that the person is romantic or
charming, tapping into the cultural understanding of the character from
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
-​ Euphemism
●​ Use: Using mild or indirect language to replace harsh or unpleasant terms.
●​ Effect: It softens the impact of potentially offensive or uncomfortable topics and can help
avoid conflict.
○​ Example: "He passed away" instead of "He died."
○​ Effect: The euphemism makes the death sound more gentle and less harsh,
reducing emotional discomfort.
-​ Colloquialism
●​ Use: Informal language or slang used in everyday conversation.
●​ Effect: It makes the language feel more relaxed, relatable, and approachable, creating a
connection with the audience.
○​ Example: "What's up?" instead of "How are you?"
○​ Effect: The colloquial tone creates an informal, friendly atmosphere, making the
speaker appear more casual and approachable.
-​ Juxtaposition
●​ Use: Placing two contrasting elements side by side to highlight their differences.
●​ Effect: It can create tension, emphasize contrast, or highlight the complexity of a
situation or character.
○​ Example: "The rich man and the poor man lived in the same street."
○​ Effect: The contrast draws attention to the disparity between wealth and poverty,
provoking reflection on social inequality.
-​ Pun
●​ Use: A play on words that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding
words.
●​ Effect: It adds humor or wit to the text, making it more enjoyable and memorable.
○​ Example: "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."
○​ Effect: The double meaning of "flies" creates a playful and amusing effect,
engaging the reader's sense of humor.
-​ Ethos: Establishing credibility or trustworthiness (e.g., "As a doctor, I recommend this
treatment").
-​ Pathos: Appealing to the audience's emotions (e.g., "Imagine the pain of losing a loved
one").
-​ Logos: Appealing to logic and reason (e.g., "Studies show that exercise improves
mental health").
 -​ Rhetorical Questions: Asking questions where the answer is implied or not expected
(e.g., "Who wouldn't want to be successful?").

3. Use and Effect of Linguistic and Literary Techniques

●​ Fiction:
○​ Metaphor, Simile, Personification: Used to enhance meaning, describe
emotions, or create atmosphere.
■​ Effect: Makes the text more engaging and layered, allowing readers to
interpret beyond the literal meaning.
○​ Allusion: Refers to cultural, historical, or literary references.
■​ Effect: Adds depth and complexity to the narrative by drawing
connections to broader themes or events.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Rhetorical Devices: Common in persuasive or argumentative texts (e.g., ethos,
pathos, logos).
■​ Effect: Strengthens the argument, appeals to logic or emotion, and
establishes the writer’s credibility.

4. Use and Effect of Punctuation

●​ Fiction:​

○​ Punctuation can control pacing, tone, and meaning. Short sentences can build
suspense or urgency, while longer sentences can slow the pace or provide
detailed descriptions.
■​ Effect: Enhances narrative flow, guides the reader’s emotional response,
and creates rhythm.
●​ Non-fiction:​

○​ Punctuation is essential for clarity and ease of reading. In technical or academic

writing, precise punctuation helps organize complex ideas.
■​ Effect: Improves readability and comprehension, helping the reader follow
the argument or instructions.
5. Use and Effect of Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex
Sentences

●​ Fiction:​

○​ Simple Sentences: Often used for clarity or emphasis.

■​ Effect: Creates a direct, impactful tone.
○​ Compound Sentences: Connects ideas or actions.
■​ Effect: Provides balance and can add to the rhythm of the text.
○​ Complex Sentences: Used to provide more detailed information or develop
character thoughts.
■​ Effect: Adds depth to the narrative, showing how one idea relates to
another.
○​ Compound-Complex Sentences: Used to convey more complex ideas or show
connections between multiple actions or thoughts.
■​ Effect: Increases the sophistication of the writing and can show intricate
relationships between events or characters.
●​ Non-fiction:​

○​ The choice of sentence structure varies based on the complexity of the subject
matter and the audience. Academic texts use complex or compound-complex
sentences to explain concepts thoroughly.
■​ Effect: Affects clarity and persuasiveness—simple sentences make points
clear, while complex ones explain nuances.
6. Use of Grammatical Features and Their Effects

●​ Fiction:
○​ Writers may use dialogue, narrative voice, and verb tenses creatively to
develop character and plot.
■​ Effect: Helps define character perspectives, creates tension, or shifts the
focus of the narrative.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Active vs. Passive Voice: Active voice (e.g., "The researcher conducted the
study") is often preferred in non-fiction for clarity and directness.
■​ Effect: Makes the text more dynamic and straightforward, enhancing
readability and engagement.

7. Purpose and Effect of a Writer’s Choice of Formal or Informal Language

●​ Fiction:
○​ Informal language may be used in dialogue to reflect the character’s
background or setting.
■​ Effect: Makes characters more relatable and the dialogue authentic.
○​ Formal language may be used for narrative descriptions or in the speech of
educated or high-status characters.
■​ Effect: Adds to character development or tone.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Formal language is often used in academic, technical, or professional writing to
maintain authority and clarity.
■​ Effect: Enhances the credibility of the argument or information presented.
○​ Informal language may be used in opinion pieces, blogs, or personal essays to
create a conversational tone.
■​ Effect: Makes the writer more relatable and engages a broader audience.

8. Organisational and Linking Features

●​ Fiction:
○​ Chronological structure, flashbacks, and foreshadowing organize the events
and link ideas.
■​ Effect: Keeps the reader engaged and allows for effective development of
plot and character arcs.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Headings, subheadings, bullet points, and paragraphs are used to organize
information clearly.
 ■​ Effect: Improves readability, allowing the reader to follow the argument or
process step by step.
○​ Linking words (e.g., "therefore," "however," "in addition") connect ideas and
arguments.
■​ Effect: Creates a logical flow of information, guiding the reader through
the text.

9. Contextual Meanings Within Texts

●​ Fiction:
○​ Words may take on specific meanings based on the plot, character development,
or setting.
■​ Effect: Adds depth to the story, allowing for multiple interpretations
depending on the context.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Words or terms may have specialized meanings based on the field or topic being
discussed (e.g., scientific, historical, or legal terminology).
■​ Effect: Clarifies complex ideas for the intended audience and ensures
accuracy.

10. Voice and Viewpoint

●​ Fiction:
○​ The writer may use first-person, second-person, or third-person point of view.
■​ Effect: Influences how intimate the reader feels with the story and
characters.
○​ Narrative Voice: The tone and perspective from which the story is told (e.g.,
omniscient, unreliable narrator).
■​ Effect: Shapes the reader's perception of the events and characters.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Objective vs. Subjective Voice: Non-fiction texts often have an objective,
neutral voice, though personal opinion can be used in persuasive or reflective
writing.
■​ Effect: Determines how persuasive or factual the writing feels.

11. Differing Viewpoints and Purposes

●​ Fiction:
 ○​ Writers can create different viewpoints to show diverse characters’ perspectives,
adding complexity to the narrative.
■​ Effect: Encourages readers to see multiple sides of a situation or
understand characters’ motivations.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Multiple viewpoints may be presented to offer a balanced view on an issue, or a
singular viewpoint may be argued in depth.
■​ Effect: Persuades the reader, presents an argument, or provides
comprehensive understanding.

12. Analyse and Respond to the Themes

●​ Fiction:
○​ Themes (e.g., love, freedom, power, loss) are explored through character
actions, plot events, and symbols.
■​ Effect: Engages the reader emotionally and intellectually, encouraging
reflection on life and society.
●​ Non-fiction:
○​ Themes often focus on real-world issues (e.g., inequality, climate change, ethics)
and are discussed through data, case studies, or arguments.
■​ Effect: Promotes thought, encourages action, or informs the reader about
a significant issue.