Diction - Academic Mode

Definition of Diction
Diction can be defined as the style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words by a speaker or writer. Diction, or word choice, often separates good writing from bad writing. It depends on several factors. First of all, The word must be correct and precise. Second, the words must be appropriate for the context in which they are used. Finally, the choice of words should be such that the listener or reader understands them easily.

Proper diction, or proper choice of words, It is important to convey the message. On the other hand, wrong choice of words can easily mislead listeners or readers, resulting in misinterpretation of the intended message. Therefore, we find various types of diction.

Formal diction - formal words are used in formal situations such as press conferences and presentations to different regions or communities.
Slang diction - is the use of words that are newly coined or even rude.
Examples of diction in literature
Depending on the subject matter, the vary Authors their diction.

Example 1: Ode to a Greek urn (by John Keats)
John Keats uses a formal diction in his ode to a Greek urn to achieve a certain effect. He says:

, you soft whistles, keep playing ... ”

Please note the use of the formal“ you ”instead of the informal“ you ”. The formality here is based on the respect the urn inspires in Keats. In the same poem he says:

“Ah, happy, happy branches!

It is more formal to use "adieu" than to say "bye".

Example # 2: The Sun Rising (By John Donne)
In sharp contrast to Keats, John Donne uses colloquialism in his poem The Sun Rising:

"Busy old Sol stupid, rebellious,
Why do you call us that,
through of the windows and curtains?
Should you run the lovers' seasons with your movements?
Damn pedant, go scold! ”

Treating the sun like a real human being in this excerpt, the poet speaks to the sun of Informally, using colloquial expressions. He rebuked the sun because it seemed to spoil the good time he is having with his beloved. Also, he orders the “spicy and pedantic sun” to go

Example # 3: The School (By Donald Barthelme)
The writers they skillfully choose words to develop a certain tone and atmosphere in their works. Read the following excerpt from a short story The School by Donald Barthelme:

“And all the trees died. Orange trees. I don't know why they died, they just died. Something wrong with the land possibly or maybe what we got from the nursery was not the best. We complain about it. So we have thirty children there, each child. he had his own little tree to plant and we have these thirty dead trees. All these kids looking at these brown sticks, it was depressing. "

The use of the words" died, "" dead, "" brown sticks, "AND" depressing "lends a gloomy tone to the passage.

Example # 4: A Tale of Two Cities (By Charles Dickens)
Sometimes writers repeat chosen words or phrases for artistic effect, as in the following example from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:

“ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of faith, it was the age of disbelief, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness was the source of hope, it was the winter of despair ”.
40 a4 By repeating the phrase "It was the ..." throughout the passage, the writer ensures that readers pay more attention to the characteristics of the time they are going to read about in the novel.

Diction function
In literature, writers choose words to create and convey a typical mood, tone, and atmosphere to their readers. A writer's choice of words, and his choice of graphic words, not only affect the reader's attitude, but also convey the writer's feelings toward the literary work. Furthermore, poetry is known for its unique diction, which separates it from prose. Generally, a poetic diction is characterized by the use of figures of speech, rhyming words, and other devices.