Identification - Logos
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from IDENTIFICATION to LOGOS. Click on a term for definitions, examples, word history, pronunciation guide, and links to related articles.
identification
Any of the wide variety of means by which an author may establish a shared sense of values, attitudes, and interests with his or her readers.
Any of the wide variety of means by which an author may establish a shared sense of values, attitudes, and interests with his or her readers.
idiom
An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.
An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.
illustration
The use of examples to explain, clarify, or justify.
The use of examples to explain, clarify, or justify.
imperative mood
The form of the verb that makes direct commands and requests.
The form of the verb that makes direct commands and requests.
imperative sentence
A sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.
A sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.
implied audience
The readers or listeners imagined by a writer or speaker before and during the composition of a text.
The readers or listeners imagined by a writer or speaker before and during the composition of a text.
indefinite article
The indefinite articles "a" and "an" refer to generalized nouns.
The indefinite articles "a" and "an" refer to generalized nouns.
indefinite pronoun
A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing.
A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing.
independent clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate.
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate.
indicative mood
The mood of the verb used in ordinary objective statements.
The mood of the verb used in ordinary objective statements.
indirect object
A noun or pronoun that is indirectly affected by the action of a verb.
A noun or pronoun that is indirectly affected by the action of a verb.
indirect question
A sentence that reports a question and ends with a period rather than a question mark.
A sentence that reports a question and ends with a period rather than a question mark.
induction
Method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.
Method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.
infinitive
A verbal (often preceded by "to") that functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
A verbal (often preceded by "to") that functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
inflection
A process of word formation in which items are added to the base form of a word to express grammatical meanings.
A process of word formation in which items are added to the base form of a word to express grammatical meanings.
initial
The first letter of a word or name or of each word in a phrase.
The first letter of a word or name or of each word in a phrase.
innuendo
An indirect or subtle, usually derogatory implication in expression; an insinuation.
An indirect or subtle, usually derogatory implication in expression; an insinuation.
intensifier
A word that emphasizes another word or phrase.
A word that emphasizes another word or phrase.
interjection
The part of speech that usually expresses emotion and is capable of standing alone.
The part of speech that usually expresses emotion and is capable of standing alone.
interrogative
A word that functions to ask a question that can't be simply answered with yes or no.
A word that functions to ask a question that can't be simply answered with yes or no.
interrogative pronoun
A pronoun that introduces a question.
A pronoun that introduces a question.
interrogative sentence
A sentence that asks a question.
A sentence that asks a question.
intransitive verb
A verb that does not take a direct object.
A verb that does not take a direct object.
invective
Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.
Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.
invented ethos
In classical rhetoric, proofs from character that are created by a rhetor or are available by virtue of the rhetor's position on an issue.
In classical rhetoric, proofs from character that are created by a rhetor or are available by virtue of the rhetor's position on an issue.
invention
The discovery of the resources for persuasion inherent in any given rhetorical problem.
The discovery of the resources for persuasion inherent in any given rhetorical problem.
irony
Use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
Use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
irregular verb
A verb that does not follow the general rules for verb forms.
A verb that does not follow the general rules for verb forms.
isocolon
A succession of phrases of approximately equal length and corresponding structure.
A succession of phrases of approximately equal length and corresponding structure.
Janus word
A word having opposite or contradictory meanings.
A word having opposite or contradictory meanings.
jargon
The specialized language of a professional, occupational, or other group, often meaningless to outsiders.
The specialized language of a professional, occupational, or other group, often meaningless to outsiders.
judicial
Speech or writing that considers the justice or injustice of a certain charge or accusation.
Speech or writing that considers the justice or injustice of a certain charge or accusation.
kairos
The opportune time and/or place, the right time to say or do the right thing.
The opportune time and/or place, the right time to say or do the right thing.
language
A human system of communication that uses arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.
A human system of communication that uses arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.
letter
An alphabetic symbol.
An alphabetic symbol.
lexeme
The fundamental unit of the lexicon of a language.
The fundamental unit of the lexicon of a language.
lexicon
(1) The collection of words--the internalized dictionary--that every speaker of the language has. (2) A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style.
(1) The collection of words--the internalized dictionary--that every speaker of the language has. (2) A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style.
linguistics
The systematic study of language.
The systematic study of language.
linking verb
A verb that joins the subject of a sentence to a subject complement.
A verb that joins the subject of a sentence to a subject complement.
lipogram
A text that purposefully excludes a particular letter of the alphabet.
A text that purposefully excludes a particular letter of the alphabet.
listeme
A word or phrase (or, according to Steven Pinker, "a stretch of sound") that must be memorized because its sound or meaning does not conform to some general rule.
A word or phrase (or, according to Steven Pinker, "a stretch of sound") that must be memorized because its sound or meaning does not conform to some general rule.
litotes
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
logical fallacy
See "fallacy."
See "fallacy."
logos
In classical rhetoric, the means of persuasion by demonstration of the truth, real or apparent.
In classical rhetoric, the means of persuasion by demonstration of the truth, real or apparent.