Identification - Lower Case
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from IDENTIFICATION to LOWER CASE. 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.
idiolect
The distinctive speech of an individual, considered as a linguistic pattern unique among speakers of his or her language or dialect.
The distinctive speech of an individual, considered as a linguistic pattern unique among speakers of his or her language or dialect.
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.
illeism
The act of referring to oneself (often habitually) in the third person.
The act of referring to oneself (often habitually) in the third person.
illocutionary force
In speech-act theory, a speaker's intention in delivering an utterance.
In speech-act theory, a speaker's intention in delivering an utterance.
illustration
The use of examples to explain, clarify, or justify.
The use of examples to explain, clarify, or justify.
image
A representation in words of a sensory experience or of an object that can be known by one or more of the senses.
A representation in words of a sensory experience or of an object that can be known by one or more of the senses.
imagery
Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.
Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.
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.
inanimate noun
A semantic category of noun that refers to a place, thing, or idea--not a person, animal, or other creature.
A semantic category of noun that refers to a place, thing, or idea--not a person, animal, or other creature.
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.
indentation
The blank space between a margin and the beginning of a line of text.
The blank space between a margin and the beginning of a line of text.
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.
independent genitive
A construction in which the noun following the possessive form is omitted.
A construction in which the noun following the possessive form is omitted.
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.
indirect quotation
A paraphrase of someone else's words. An indirect quotation is not placed in quotation marks.
A paraphrase of someone else's words. An indirect quotation is not placed in quotation marks.
Indo-European
A family of languages (including most of the languages spoken in Europe, India, and Iran) descended from a common tongue spoken in the third millennium B.C.
A family of languages (including most of the languages spoken in Europe, India, and Iran) descended from a common tongue spoken in the third millennium B.C.
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.
inference
The process of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true.
The process of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true.
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.
informal logic
A broad term for any of the various methods of analyzing and evaluating arguments used in everyday life.
A broad term for any of the various methods of analyzing and evaluating arguments used in everyday life.
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.
initialism
An abbreviation that consists of the first letter or letters of words in a phrase.
An abbreviation that consists of the first letter or letters of words in a phrase.
inkhorn term
Showy, affected, or pretentious language; an unusual, often lengthy word intended to impress readers or listeners.
Showy, affected, or pretentious language; an unusual, often lengthy word intended to impress readers or listeners.
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.
interrobang
A nonstandard mark of punctuation in the form of a question mark superimposed on an exclamation point (sometimes appearing as ?!), used to end a rhetorical question or a simultaneous question and exclamation.
A nonstandard mark of punctuation in the form of a question mark superimposed on an exclamation point (sometimes appearing as ?!), used to end a rhetorical question or a simultaneous question and exclamation.
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.
interrupting phrase
A word group (which may be a statement, question, or exclamation) that interrupts the flow of a sentence and is usually set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses.
A word group (which may be a statement, question, or exclamation) that interrupts the flow of a sentence and is usually set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses.
intransitive verb
A verb that does not take a direct object.
A verb that does not take a direct object.
introduction
The opening of an essay (or other written work), which typically identifies the topic, arouses interest, and prepares the reader for the development of the thesis.
The opening of an essay (or other written work), which typically identifies the topic, arouses interest, and prepares the reader for the development of the thesis.
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.
inversion
A reversal of normal word order, especially the placement of a verb ahead of the subject.
A reversal of normal word order, especially the placement of a verb ahead of the subject.
inverted commas
See "quotation marks."
See "quotation marks."
ironist
A notable user of irony, especially a writer or performer.
A notable user of irony, especially a writer or performer.
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.
italics
A style of printing or typeface in which letters are slanted to the right.
A style of printing or typeface in which letters are slanted to the right.
iterative
A verb form indicating that an action is (or was) repeated.
A verb form indicating that an action is (or was) repeated.
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.
jeremiad
A speech or literary work expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.
A speech or literary work expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.
journal
A record of incidents, experiences, and ideas.
A record of incidents, experiences, and ideas.
journalists' questions
The questions answered in the lead of a conventional newspaper article.
The questions answered in the lead of a conventional newspaper article.
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.
justification
In typesetting and printing, the process or result of spacing text so that the lines come out even at the margins.
In typesetting and printing, the process or result of spacing text so that the lines come out even at the margins.
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.
kenning
A figurative expression, usually compound in form, that is used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English.
A figurative expression, usually compound in form, that is used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English.
kitchen table lingo
See "family slang."
See "family slang."
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.
language family
A set of languages deriving from a common ancestor or "parent."
A set of languages deriving from a common ancestor or "parent."
language maven
An informal term, popularized by journalist William Safire, for a self-appointed authority on English usage.
An informal term, popularized by journalist William Safire, for a self-appointed authority on English usage.
langue
Language as an abstract system of signs (the underlying structure of a language), in contrast to "parole," the individual expressions of language.
Language as an abstract system of signs (the underlying structure of a language), in contrast to "parole," the individual expressions of language.
lead
The first sentence or two of a short article or the first paragraph or two of a longer essay.
The first sentence or two of a short article or the first paragraph or two of a longer essay.
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.
lexical ambiguity
The presence of two or more possible meanings within a single word.
The presence of two or more possible meanings within a single word.
lexical set
A group of words that share a specific form or meaning. More specifically, as defined by John C. Wells (1982), a group of words in which particular vowels are pronounced in the same way.
A group of words that share a specific form or meaning. More specifically, as defined by John C. Wells (1982), a group of words in which particular vowels are pronounced in the same way.
lexical verb
Any verb in English that is not an auxiliary verb.
Any verb in English that is not an auxiliary verb.
lexicography
The process of writing, editing, and/or compiling a dictionary.
The process of writing, editing, and/or compiling a dictionary.
lexicology
The branch of linguistics that studies the stock of words (the lexicon) in a given language.
The branch of linguistics that studies the stock of words (the lexicon) in a given 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.
liberal arts
1) In medieval education, a standard way of depicting the realms of higher learning. (2) Academic studies intended to develop general intellectual abilities as opposed to occupational skills.
1) In medieval education, a standard way of depicting the realms of higher learning. (2) Academic studies intended to develop general intellectual abilities as opposed to occupational skills.
light verb
A verb with no meaning of its own that serves merely to convert another word in a sentence into a verb form.
A verb with no meaning of its own that serves merely to convert another word in a sentence into a verb form.
lingo
(1) An informal term for the special vocabulary of a particular group or field. (2) Language or speech that is perceived as strange or unintelligible.
(1) An informal term for the special vocabulary of a particular group or field. (2) Language or speech that is perceived as strange or unintelligible.
lingua franca
A language or a mixture of languages used habitually by people whose native languages are different.
A language or a mixture of languages used habitually by people whose native languages are different.
linguist
A specialist in linguistics (the study of language).
A specialist in linguistics (the study of language).
linguistic insecurity
The anxiety or lack of confidence experienced by speakers and writers who believe that their use of language does not conform to the principles and practices of Standard English.
The anxiety or lack of confidence experienced by speakers and writers who believe that their use of language does not conform to the principles and practices of Standard English.
linguistic variation
Regional, social, or contextual differences in the ways that a particular language is used.
Regional, social, or contextual differences in the ways that a particular language is used.
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.
list
A series of particular images or details often used in essays and other works of creative nonfiction to evoke a sense of place or character.
A series of particular images or details often used in essays and other works of creative nonfiction to evoke a sense of place or character.
list
See "series."
See "series."
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.
literacy
The ability to read and write.
The ability to read and write.
literal
The most obvious or nonfigurative sense of a word or words; language that is not perceived as metaphorical.
The most obvious or nonfigurative sense of a word or words; language that is not perceived as metaphorical.
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.
loan shift
A change in the meaning of an established native word to accommodate a new concept acquired from another language.
A change in the meaning of an established native word to accommodate a new concept acquired from another language.
loan translation
A compound in English that literally translates a foreign expression, word for word.
A compound in English that literally translates a foreign expression, word for word.
loanword
A word imported into English from another language.
A word imported into English from another language.
locutionary act
In speech-act theory, the act of making a meaningful utterance.
In speech-act theory, the act of making a meaningful utterance.
logic
The study of the principles of reasoning.
The study of the principles of reasoning.
logical fallacy
An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.
An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.
logical proof
An argument based on inductive or deductive reasoning.
An argument based on inductive or deductive reasoning.
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.
loose sentence
A sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by subordinate phrases and clauses.
A sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by subordinate phrases and clauses.
lower case
In the printed alphabet, small letters (a,b,c . . .) as distinguished from capital letters (A,B,C . . . ).
In the printed alphabet, small letters (a,b,c . . .) as distinguished from capital letters (A,B,C . . . ).