Diction Choices – Expressions of Language

Modern Language and Expression

As you know, language changes. The English spoken today is vastly different from the English spoken four hundred years ago, despite the fact that even Shakespeare's English is within the period of "Modern English." Social, cultural, political, and technological advances in the world all play a role in how language develops and changes over time.

Think about words you say every day. More than likely, your grandparents did not use words like email, computer, or Internet until they were well into adulthood. Likewise, you have probably never used terms like rotary phone or percolator. And while you do probably go to talkies quite often, you probably just call them movies or flicks.

As times change, so do language and expressions. Idioms, slang, euphemisms, clichés, and jargon are expressions or specialized types of language used every day. Some of these words or phrases are specific to a particular group of people, region, or even type of job or worker. Writers will incorporate these expressions into their stories to bring characters to life or make them more believable to the reader. Whether a character uses a cell phone or a rotary phone can indicate to the reader in which time period a story is set.

Both Hurston and Steinbeck use a wide variety of expressions and specialized terms in their novels, so familiarizing yourself with them now will help you understand the characters of your selected novel. In this interactivity, click on each of the folder tabs to examine five different expressions of language utilized by authors to add depth and characterization to their writing.

View a printable version of the interactivity.

 

In their novels, Hurston and Steinbeck introduce you to working-class characters, yet they are from very different backgrounds and regions. As you read, pay attention to the language used by Hurston and Steinbeck. These authors make liberal use of idioms, slang, jargon, euphemisms, and clichés. Hurston especially relies heavily on the dialect and slang of her character, while Steinbeck favors the use of jargon and idioms of his characters.

 

Expressions of Language Review

Now that you have explored various language expressions, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each question, then drag and drop the correct term to the blank. Click on the player button to get started.