Definition and Examples of Diction in English

Definition and Examples of Diction in English In rhetoric and composition, diction is the choice and use of words in speech or writing. Also called  word choice.In phonology and phonetics, diction is a way of speaking, usually judged in terms of prevailing standards of pronunciation and elocution. Also called enunciation and articulation. Etymology From the Latin, to say, speak Example The principal meaning of diction is the selection and use of words or the manner of expression. But this fact does not rule out, as some purists would like to do, the companion meaning of mode of speaking or enunciation.(Theodore Bernstein, Miss Thistlebottoms Hobgoblins, 1971) Concrete and Abstract Diction Concrete and abstract diction need each other. Concrete diction illustrates and anchors the generalizations that abstract diction expresses. . . . The best writing integrates concrete and abstract diction, the language of showing and the language of telling (explaining).(David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen, Writing Analytically, 6th ed. Wadsworth, 2012) Diction and Audience Diction will be effective only when the words you choose are appropriate for the audience and purpose,  when they convey your message accurately and comfortably. The idea of comfort may seem out of place in connection with diction, but, in fact, words can sometimes cause the reader to feel uncomfortable. Youve probably experienced such feelings yourself as a listenerhearing a speaker whose words for one reason or another strike you as inappropriate.(Martha Kolln, Rhetorical Grammar. Allyn and Bacon, 1999) Levels of Language Sometimes diction is described in terms of four levels of language: (1) formal, as in serious discourse; (2)  informal, as in relaxed but polite conversation; (3) colloquial, as in everyday usage; (4)  slang, as in impolite and newly coined words. It is generally agreed that the qualities of proper diction are appropriateness, correctness, and accuracy. A distinction is usually made between diction, which refers to the choice of words, and style, which refers to the manner in which the words are used.(Jack Myers and Don Charles Wukasch, Dictionary of Poetic Terms. University of North Texas Press, 2003) Small Surprises Your diction, the exact words you choose and the settings in which you use them, means a great deal to the success of your writing. While your language should be appropriate to the situation, that generally still leaves plenty of room for variety. Skillful writers mix general and particular, abstract and concrete, long and short, learned and commonplace, connotative and neutral words to administer a series of small but telling surprises. Readers stay interested because they dont know exactly whats coming next.(Joe Glaser, Understanding Style: Practical Ways to Improve Your Writing. Oxford University  Press, 1999)Note the placing of the single low word in [Dwight]  Macdonald’s brilliantly high-flown definition of the academic prose that had already begun to jam the college libraries: The amount of verbal pomposity, elaboration of the obvious, repetition, trivia, low-grade statistics, tedious factification, drudging recapitulations of the half-comprehended, and generally inane and laborious junk that one encounters suggests that the thinkers of earlier ages had one decisive advantage over those of today: they could draw on very little research. The low word, of course, is  junk. But it helps to light up a bravura sentence full of useful noncolloquial phrases:  drudging recapitulations of the half-comprehended  is a permanently good definition of the danger posed by college courses without standards, and  low-grade statistics  has the merit of starting another discussion altogether.(Clive James, Style Is the Man. The Atlantic, May 2012) Exactness, Appropriateness, and Accuracy Word choice and usage come under the heading of diction. Some people seem to think that when it comes to word choice, bigger is always better. But using a word just because it is big is a bad idea. Youre better off using words for their exactness, appropriateness, and accuracy than for their size. The only time a bigger word is a better choice is when it is more accurate. In any case, the final decision to use this word over that should be based on the audience for whom youre writing.(Anthony C. Winkler and Jo Ray Metherell, Writing the Research Paper: A Handbook, 8th ed. Wadsworth, 2012) Weasel Words One of our defects as a nation is a tendency to use what have been called weasel words. When a weasel sucks eggs the meat is sucked out of the egg. If you use a weasel word after another, there is nothing left of the other.(Theodore Roosevelt, 1916) T.S. Eliot on Words Words strain,Crack and sometimes break, under the burden,Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,Will not stay still.(T.S. Eliot, Burnt Norton) Pronunciation: DIK-shun

Neighborhood Watch Prevention Program Research Paper

Neighborhood Watch Prevention Program - Research Paper Example 105). Neighborhood Watch, subsumed within a broad classification of community crime prevention programs, has historical beginnings in the most primitive and olden crime prevention schemes. Undoubtedly, the prevention of crime has been a preoccupation of civilizations spanning the course of time (Lab, 2004). Although crime prevention has been an invariable concern throughout history, the methods used to prevent crime have differed not only in strategic complexity but also with respect to the staff relegated to perform crime prevention tasks (Lab, 2004; Vago, 2003). For instance, quite notable distinctions among historic crime prevention schemes include the exclusive reliance on the informal social control of primitive kin groups, which had no formal system of jurisprudence, versus the utilization of a semi-formal and/or paid obligatory police force, existing within a more complex legal system (Vago, 2003). Regardless of the strategic complexity, crime prevention schemes of past have r elied to a large extent on a familial (kin) and/or a neighborhood watch-style of policing- a style of policing which is congruent with the basic tenets of Neighborhood Watch and a style of policing which is being hailed as a crucial remedy to resolve neighborhood crime and disorder problems (Lab, 2004). This style of policing however does not absolve formal agents of social control from also being responsible for the prevention of crime (Bowers & Johnson, 2005). Since the 1970s, empirical studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch (Rosenbaum, Lewis, & Grant, 1986; Lindsay & McGillis, 1986). These studies have focused on finding a relationship between Neighborhood Watch and reductions in (1) residential burglary, (2) fear of crime, and (3) victimizations. Other studies have also assessed the relationship between community crime prevention programs, including Neighborhood Watch and collective efficacy; informal social control; and attachment to th e neighborhood (Rosenbaum et al., 1986). Early studies on Neighborhood Watch revealed the most promising findings. For instance, studies conducted in Seattle and Portland showed that the implementation of watch programs led to a significant reduction in self-reported burglary victimizations (Lindsay & McGillis, 1986). Also, program participants in Seattle were found to incorporate elements of Neighborhood Watch into their daily routines (e.g. personal protection behaviors) and incorporate elements of the program to defend their home from being burglarized (Clarke & Newman, 2006). In Portland, program participants were more apt to engage in protection behaviors that benefited them and their neighborhood. Thus, it showed that residents were engaging in personal and collective protection behaviors (Schneider, 1986). In Hartford, Connecticut, a test of Newman's (1972) notions of defensible space and territoriality also revealed promising findings. Two years after the implementation of w atch programs and after the implementation of changes in the neighborhood's traffic flow, residents reported lower burglary and robbery victimizations. The study also showed an increase in resident's ability to exert informal social control- they were more willing to protect their neighborhood from intruders and more likely to interact with their neighbors (Fowler & Mangoine, 1986). Evaluations conducted in

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Research Paper

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) - Research Paper Example the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) agreed upon modifying the existing standard of revenue recognition (Accounting Standards codification 605) in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and publish Accounting standards update 2014-09 (AICPA, 2014). The paper aims at understanding the implications of the update in context of revenue recognition in a broad manner. Alongside, it will also highlight impact of the new development in terms of improvement in financial reporting. Revenue is a very crucial element of the financial statement as it helps investors and other interested parties of an organisation in assessing the financial performance as well as position of the company with respect to others in an industry. It was observed that significant differences existed between revenue recognition principle of US GAAP and that of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It was also ascertained that both the standards required certain improvements so as to improve the overall quality of financial reporting (Gallistel, et al., 2012). The previous revenue recognition guidelines in the US GAAP integrated broad concepts with various revenue requirements that were industry-specific; this process complicated the overall system of reporting. Contrastingly, IFRS revealed very limited information which made it difficult to account for complex transactions. The new revenue recognition guidance replaces transaction specific and industry specific revenue reco gnition measures with a principle based approach which is more specific in nature (Ernst & Young, 2014; PWC, 2014a). The boards, FASB and IASB, responded to the above mentioned challenges by developing a converged set of requirements that meet existing issues in US GAAP and IFRS. The guiding principle of the new standard aims at ensuring that companies recognise revenue for depicting transfer of goods and services to consumers in an amount which

Laws of Gay Marriage Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Laws of Gay Marriage - Term Paper Example Homosexuality has been practiced by the ancient Romans and Greek people. Although there is a lot of subjectivity about gay marriages in those cultures, as homosexual people have not been provided with as much freedom and liberty to get married until recently, yet literature review suggests that the practice of homosexuality has always been there. Even the term â€Å"homosexuality† was not used before 1869 (McKinnon 1). Ancient Romans and Greeks considered homosexuality a normal practice. Many Greek philosophers including Aristotle, Plato and Socrates had male sexual partners. â€Å"It was common practice for a male to take on a young boy as his lover until he reached maturity where he would, in turn, take on another young boy as his lover† (McKinnon 1). Similarly, there exist accounts of the Native Americans in the literature of the North Americans, who had adopted the â€Å"Berdache† lifestyle in which people of one gender used to dress like people of the opposi te gender, and dated people from the same gender. The reason this practice did not become much stigmatized was that the couples were apparently heterosexuals. Homosexuality has been condemned by a lot of religions. A review of various religious scriptures suggests that homosexuality has been abhorred. Some religious scriptures have mentioned very strict punishments for people indulging in this act. Particularly, the Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Judaism as well as Islam have condemned the act of homosexuality. In the Bible and Quran, there is a detailed discussion of a nation known as â€Å"the people of Lut† who were indulged in the practice of homosexuality. Prophet Lut (P.B.U.H.) warned the people not to do it, but the people would not listen. Quran describes homosexuality as a practice that crosses the limits of God Almighty. Quran quotes Prophet Lut (P.B.U.H.) in these words, â€Å"Doa ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds† (Qur'an 7:80-81 cited in â€Å"Isla m and Homosexuality†).

How did economic change and the two world wars effect wome workers in Essay

How did economic change and the two world wars effect wome workers in Britain between 1750 - 1950 - Essay Example Both phases provided empowerment for women altering their roles in their workplace and at home, sometimes restricting opportunity (Noung, Para1). The first phase of industrialization, the outwork, involved the production of goods for home use and for export through the merchants who fed the local and outside markets with the goods. The families never hesitated to squeeze themselves, if it called for, due to the flexibility of the system even though there were frustrations placed on their leisure time by out putting merchants. During this era, the women played a very important economic role since all the members of a household knew how to operate a spinning machine, meaning that together they contributed to the household economy. Therefore, this phase empowered women by making them agents of production and not just consumption (Floud, p25). This development in the production sector was important due to the agricultural trends, which were extant since 1700. This was due to the economics of scales that proprietors were employing. Large farms were able to operate with few workers hence released much labour from the lands driving women out of the labour market. These could be associated with the fact that men still dominated social and economic sectors during this period. As their wages started going down, they sought to exclude women from the labour market to prevent further immiseration. Hence, women from the agricultural region had to seek employment at home. This exclusion of women came with some side effects to the farmers who were their employers. Most noticeable and comical was the violent clashes between well-organized groups of women gleaners and the farmers. They would invade their farms to collect leftovers after harvesting. As the farmers tried to limit this, they developed a stricter notion of property rights in the eighteenth century. The farmers worn the civil case but the local customary law pull-ranked it as the judiciary

The beauty of islam art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The beauty of islam art - Essay Example The beauty of Islamic art, considering outward beauty and inward beauty, has its source in the past. The human activities are integrated to the extent into Islamic; they are a shore up for beauty that really transcends these actions for it is the Islamic beauty itself (Critch, 2004, 8). The art of Islamic receives its beauty from Islamic itself and not from any other ethic genius, and just as the science of Islamic originated in the Hadith and Qur’an, so the Islamic art typical form is rooted in the Islamic spirit. Inward beauty is the beauty of the heart or of the soul, and which necessary emanates outwards, transforming each individual action hooked on an art, and all art into Gods remembrance. As Islamic art is essential to all Muslim’s part of life and makes it beautiful, so the Islamic art ought to be used to invent the things of the everyday life with beauty. In Islamic art, the emphasis is not an art in favor of art’s sake, but it is an art on

Film Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Film Analysis - Essay Example also tries to answer some major concerns like why these people have always remained so poorly understood and why their history is fraught with endless stories of struggle and strife. This essay aims to concentrate on one planning issue in particular which is cultural awareness and assimilation. This issue has a lot of depth and intensity to it which is why following discussion will be based on it. There are clear evidences present in the film to support this planning issue, each of which will be scrutinized in this essay. First piece of evidence supporting the fact that the film promotes cultural awareness and assimilation is when the FBI agent Ray Levoi begins to go deeper and has his first look at what is hidden under the surface. The surface image of Native Americans is very stereotypical which is created by the white elite forces. It speaks that all Native Americans are wild and deranged especially the infamous Indian tribes. The unmitigated hatred spawned by white people for Indian tribes is a very grave issue which forms the bedrock of this film. Levoi is more culturally aware than others and so, he believes that some Indian tribes may be vicious, but the same cannot be said for all. There is no reason to possess such racial hatred for the Indians as is possessed by characters like Agent Frank â€Å"Cooch† and Jack Milton in the film. Levoi has a different attitude than his partner Cooch toward Native Americans. He understands that there are power inequalities between the Indians and whi tes. After developing a harmonious standing with some tribal elders like Grandpa Sam, he come to know that these inequalities range from political power to social relationships. He sees that whites are certainly more privileged than Native Indians are and he sympathizes with local Indian tribes. This shows how culturally aware he becomes which helps him to swiftly assimilate with them. Another point highlighting Levoi’s cultural awareness is his association with Maggie