Taboo Language - Zeugma
A glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms, from TABOO LANGUAGE to ZEUGMA. Click on a term for definitions, examples, word history, pronunciation guide, and links to related articles.
taboo language
Words and phrases that are generally considered inappropriate in certain contexts.
Words and phrases that are generally considered inappropriate in certain contexts.
tag question
A question added to the end of a declarative sentence.
A question added to the end of a declarative sentence.
tail
A word or phrase at the end of a clause used to clarify, strengthen, extend, or emphasize a topic that was previously introduced.
A word or phrase at the end of a clause used to clarify, strengthen, extend, or emphasize a topic that was previously introduced.
tapinosis
Undignified language that debases a person or thing.
Undignified language that debases a person or thing.
target domain
See "conceptual domain" and "conceptual metaphor."
See "conceptual domain" and "conceptual metaphor."
tautology
(1) The needless repetition of an idea using different words. (2) In logic, a statement that is unconditionally true by virtue of its form alone.
(1) The needless repetition of an idea using different words. (2) In logic, a statement that is unconditionally true by virtue of its form alone.
technical writing
Written communications done on the job, especially in fields with specialized vocabularies, such as science, engineering, technology, and the health sciences.
Written communications done on the job, especially in fields with specialized vocabularies, such as science, engineering, technology, and the health sciences.
tenor
The underlying idea or the principal subject that is the meaning of a metaphor.
The underlying idea or the principal subject that is the meaning of a metaphor.
tense
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future.
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future.
testimony
A person's account of an event or state of affairs.
A person's account of an event or state of affairs.
tetracolon climax
A series of four members.
A series of four members.
text
(1) The original words of something written, printed, or spoken, in contrast to a summary or paraphrase. (2) A coherent stretch of language that may be regarded as an object of critical analysis.
(1) The original words of something written, printed, or spoken, in contrast to a summary or paraphrase. (2) A coherent stretch of language that may be regarded as an object of critical analysis.
theme
(1) The main idea of a text, expressed directly or indirectly. (2) A short composition assigned as a writing exercise.
(1) The main idea of a text, expressed directly or indirectly. (2) A short composition assigned as a writing exercise.
theoretical grammar
The study of the essential components of any human language.
The study of the essential components of any human language.
theoretical linguistics
See "theoretical grammar."
See "theoretical grammar."
therapeutic metaphor
A metaphor (or figurative comparison) used by a therapist to assist a client in the process of personal transformation, healing, and growth.
A metaphor (or figurative comparison) used by a therapist to assist a client in the process of personal transformation, healing, and growth.
thesaurus
A book of synonyms, often including related words and antonyms.
A book of synonyms, often including related words and antonyms.
thesis
The main idea of an essay or report, often written as a single declarative sentence.
The main idea of an essay or report, often written as a single declarative sentence.
title
A word or phrase given to an essay, article, chapter, report, or other work to identify the subject and attract the reader's attention.
A word or phrase given to an essay, article, chapter, report, or other work to identify the subject and attract the reader's attention.
tone
A writer's attitude toward the subject and audience. Tone is primarily conveyed through diction, point of view, syntax, and level of formality.
A writer's attitude toward the subject and audience. Tone is primarily conveyed through diction, point of view, syntax, and level of formality.
topic
The particular issue or idea that serves as the subject of a paragraph, essay, report, or speech.
The particular issue or idea that serves as the subject of a paragraph, essay, report, or speech.
topic sentence
The sentence, often at the beginning of a paragraph, that states or suggests the main idea.
The sentence, often at the beginning of a paragraph, that states or suggests the main idea.
topoi
Stock formulas such as puns, proverbs, cause and effect, and comparison, which rhetors use to produce arguments.
Stock formulas such as puns, proverbs, cause and effect, and comparison, which rhetors use to produce arguments.
toponym
A place name or a word coined in association with the name of a place.
A place name or a word coined in association with the name of a place.
Toulmin model
A six-part model of argument introduced by British philosopher Stephen Toulmin. The Toulmin model can be used as a tool for analyzing and categorizing arguments.
A six-part model of argument introduced by British philosopher Stephen Toulmin. The Toulmin model can be used as a tool for analyzing and categorizing arguments.
trademark
A distinctive word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies a product and is legally owned by its manufacturer or inventor.
A distinctive word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies a product and is legally owned by its manufacturer or inventor.
traditional grammar
The collection of rules and concepts about the structure of language that is commonly taught in schools.
The collection of rules and concepts about the structure of language that is commonly taught in schools.
transferred epithet
See "hypallage."
See "hypallage."
transformation
A type of syntactic rule that can move an element from one position to another.
A type of syntactic rule that can move an element from one position to another.
transformational grammar
A theory of grammar that accounts for the constructions of a language by linguistic transformations and phrase structures.
A theory of grammar that accounts for the constructions of a language by linguistic transformations and phrase structures.
transition
The connection between two parts of a piece of writing, contributing to coherence.
The connection between two parts of a piece of writing, contributing to coherence.
transitional expression
A word or phrase that shows how the meaning of one sentence is related to the meaning of the preceding sentence.
A word or phrase that shows how the meaning of one sentence is related to the meaning of the preceding sentence.
transitive verb
A verb that takes a direct object.
A verb that takes a direct object.
travel writing
A form of creative nonfiction in which the narrator's encounters with foreign places serve as the dominant subject.
A form of creative nonfiction in which the narrator's encounters with foreign places serve as the dominant subject.
tricolon
Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.
Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.
trivium
The lower division of the seven liberal arts in medieval schools, consisting of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
The lower division of the seven liberal arts in medieval schools, consisting of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
trope
(1) A figure of speech. (2) A rhetorical device that produces a shift in the meanings of words--in contrast to a scheme, which changes only the shape of a phrase.
(1) A figure of speech. (2) A rhetorical device that produces a shift in the meanings of words--in contrast to a scheme, which changes only the shape of a phrase.
tu quoque
A type of ad hominem argument in which a person turns a charge back on his or her accuser: a logical fallacy.
A type of ad hominem argument in which a person turns a charge back on his or her accuser: a logical fallacy.
understatement
Figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.
Figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.
unity
The quality of oneness in a paragraph or essay that results when all the words and sentences contribute to a single main idea.
The quality of oneness in a paragraph or essay that results when all the words and sentences contribute to a single main idea.
universal grammar
The system of categories, operations, and principles shared by all human languages and considered to be innate.
The system of categories, operations, and principles shared by all human languages and considered to be innate.
uptalk
A speech pattern in which phrases and sentences habitually end with a rising sound, as if the statement were a question.
A speech pattern in which phrases and sentences habitually end with a rising sound, as if the statement were a question.
usage
The conventional ways in which words or phrases are used, spoken, or written in a speech community.
The conventional ways in which words or phrases are used, spoken, or written in a speech community.
vehicle
In a metaphor, the figure itself. A metaphor carries two ideas: the vehicle and the tenor, or underlying idea.
In a metaphor, the figure itself. A metaphor carries two ideas: the vehicle and the tenor, or underlying idea.
verb
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.
verbal
A verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun or a modifier rather than as a verb.
A verb form that functions in a sentence as a noun or a modifier rather than as a verb.
verbal hedge
A word or phrase that makes statements less forceful or assertive.
A word or phrase that makes statements less forceful or assertive.
verbal hygiene
A phrase coined by British linguist Deborah Cameron to describe "the urge to meddle in matters of language": the inclination to improve, correct, or arrest change in a language.
A phrase coined by British linguist Deborah Cameron to describe "the urge to meddle in matters of language": the inclination to improve, correct, or arrest change in a language.
verbal irony
A trope (or figure of speech) in which the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.
A trope (or figure of speech) in which the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.
verbal noun
A verbal that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun.
A verbal that ends in "-ing" and functions as a noun.
verbing
A type of conversion (or functional shift) in which a noun is used as a verb.
A type of conversion (or functional shift) in which a noun is used as a verb.
verbless clause
A clause-like construction in which a verb element is implied but not present.
A clause-like construction in which a verb element is implied but not present.
verbless sentence
A construction that lacks a verb but functions as a sentence.
A construction that lacks a verb but functions as a sentence.
vernacular
The language of a particular group, profession, region, or country, especially as spoken rather than formally written.
The language of a particular group, profession, region, or country, especially as spoken rather than formally written.
virgule
See "slash."
See "slash."
visual metaphor
The representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by way of a visual image that suggests a particular association or point of similarity.
The representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by way of a visual image that suggests a particular association or point of similarity.
visual rhetoric
A branch of rhetorical studies concerned with the persuasive use of images.
A branch of rhetorical studies concerned with the persuasive use of images.
vocabulary
All the words of a language, or the words used by a particular person or group.
All the words of a language, or the words used by a particular person or group.
vocative
A word or phrase used to address a reader or listener directly, usually in the form of a personal name, title, or term of endearment.
A word or phrase used to address a reader or listener directly, usually in the form of a personal name, title, or term of endearment.
voice
The quality of a verb that indicates whether its subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice).
The quality of a verb that indicates whether its subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice).
vowel
A letter of the alphabet (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y) that represents a speech sound created by the relatively free passage of breath through the larynx and oral cavity.
A letter of the alphabet (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y) that represents a speech sound created by the relatively free passage of breath through the larynx and oral cavity.
warrant
In the Toulmin model of argument, a general rule indicating the relevance of a claim.
In the Toulmin model of argument, a general rule indicating the relevance of a claim.
weak verb
See "regular verb."
See "regular verb."
weasel word
A modifying word that undermines or contradicts the meaning of the word, phrase, or clause it accompanies.
A modifying word that undermines or contradicts the meaning of the word, phrase, or clause it accompanies.
whimperative
The conversational convention of casting an imperative statement in question or declarative form to communicate a request without causing offense.
The conversational convention of casting an imperative statement in question or declarative form to communicate a request without causing offense.
word
A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes.
A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes.
word class
A set of words that display the same formal properties, especially their inflections and distribution. Similar to (but not synonymous with) the more traditional term "part of speech."
A set of words that display the same formal properties, especially their inflections and distribution. Similar to (but not synonymous with) the more traditional term "part of speech."
Word Grammar
A theory of language structure which holds that grammatical knowledge is largely a body (or network) of knowledge about words.
A theory of language structure which holds that grammatical knowledge is largely a body (or network) of knowledge about words.
word manufacture
See "neologism."
See "neologism."
writing
(1) A system of graphic symbols that can be used to convey meaning. (2) the act of composing a text.
(1) A system of graphic symbols that can be used to convey meaning. (2) the act of composing a text.
writing process
The series of overlapping steps that most writers follow in producing texts.
The series of overlapping steps that most writers follow in producing texts.
zero article
An occasion in speech or writing where a noun or noun phrase is not preceded by an article
An occasion in speech or writing where a noun or noun phrase is not preceded by an article
zero derivation
See "conversion"
See "conversion"
zero plural
A plural form of a noun that is identical to the singular form. "Zero plural marking" refers to the absence of the plural markers "s" and "es."
A plural form of a noun that is identical to the singular form. "Zero plural marking" refers to the absence of the plural markers "s" and "es."
zeugma
Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.
Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.