Dictionary Definition
diction
Noun
1 the articulation of speech regarded from the
point of view of its intelligibility to the audience [syn: enunciation]
2 the manner in which something is expressed in
words; "use concise military verbiage"- G.S.Patton [syn: wording, phrasing, phraseology, choice of
words, verbiage]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -ɪkʃən
Noun
- The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and presentation.
Related terms
Translations
Extensive Definition
Diction, in its original, primary meaning, refers
to the writer's or the speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style
of expression. A secondary, common meaning of "diction" is better,
and more precisely, expressed with the word enunciation — the art of
speaking clearly so that each word is clearly heard and understood
to its fullest complexity and extremity. This secondary sense
concerns pronunciation and tone,
rather than word choice and style. Diction is divided into two
types: Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. Connotation is
the attitudes and feelings associated with a word.
Diction has multiple concerns; register — words
being either formal or
informal in social
context — is foremost. Literary diction analysis reveals how a
passage establishes tone and
characterization, e.g. a preponderance of verbs relating physical
movement suggests an active character, while a preponderance of
verbs relating states of mind portrays an introspective character.
Diction also has an impact upon word choice and syntax.
Diction comprises eight elements: Phoneme, Syllable, Conjunction,
Connective,
Noun, Verb, Inflection, and
Utterance.
diction in German: Diktion
diction in French: Diction
diction in Italian: Dizione
diction in Russian: Дикция
diction in Turkish: Diksiyon