DIDLS Flashcards

DIDLS Overview

• DIDLS is an acronym representing Diction, Imagery, Details, Language, and Syntax, used to analyze tone in writing.

Using DIDLS with Tone

• Diction helps identify the tone; imagery, details, language, and syntax provide supporting elements to interpret tone.

Diction

• Author's word choices and their meanings can influence reader's mood and indicate tone.
• Consider the specific word choices, emotional effects, and tonal implications of selected words.

Imagery

• Utilizes descriptive language to evoke sensory experiences in the reader.
• Analyze vivid images, their sensory appeal, and their emotional impact on readers.

Details

• Includes both specific facts provided and those omitted by the author.
• Examine how these choices affect reader's mood and reveal the author's tone.

Language

• Focuses on the characteristics of the words used in the text.
• Investigate the descriptive quality of the language and its effect on the reader's mood and tone.

Syntax

• Refers to the structure and arrangement of sentences.
• Analyze whether sentences are simple or complex and how they affect reader enjoyment and understanding.

Types of Diction

• High/Formal: Elevated language, free from slang, with polysyllabic words and sophisticated syntax.
• Neutral: Standard language without elaborate vocabulary; may contain contradictions.
• Informal/Low: Everyday conversational language; incorporates slang and idioms.
• Slang: Recently coined words common in informal settings.
• Colloquial: Nonstandard language variations suitable for informal speech.
• Jargon: Specialized terms associated with specific fields or professions.
• Dialect: Regional language variations with unique vocabularies and grammatical rules.
• Concrete: Specific terms that describe tangible qualities or conditions.
• Abstract: Language that conveys ideas or emotions that are intangible.
• Denotation: The literal, dictionary definition of a word.
• Connotation: The emotional and associative meanings linked to a word beyond its literal meaning.

Imagery Techniques

• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
• Metonymy: Using a related term to stand for another.
• Analogy: Drawing comparisons between two different things based on shared characteristics.

Language Techniques

• Euphemism: A milder substitution for a harsh or offensive term.
• Aphorism: A succinct statement conveying a general truth, often in a memorable way.
• Paradox: A statement that can simultaneously possess contradictory characteristics.

Syntax Techniques

• Rhetorical Question: Posits a question that is not meant to be answered, often used for effect.
• Declarative: A straightforward statement or assertion.
• Imperative: A command or directive.
• Interrogative: A question form, inviting response.
• Simple Sentence: Contains a single subject and verb.
• Loose Sentence: Presents details after the main clause, often indicating immediacy.
• Periodic Sentence: Introduces details before the main clause, often suggesting retrospection.
• Juxtaposition: Places contrasting ideas or images side by side for effect.
• Parallelism: Uses similar structures to emphasize related ideas.
• Repetition: Reiterates words or phrases to create rhythm or emphasis.
• Telegraphic: Extremely short sentences (fewer than 5 words).
• Short: Sentences around five words in length.
• Medium: Sentences approximately 18 words long.
• Long and Involved: Extended sentences exceeding 30 words, often complex in structure.