Creative Writing: Diction

Summary

This creative writing lesson delves into the art of diction, exploring its impact on tone, character development, and narrative voice. It distinguishes between formal and informal diction, and introduces jargon, slang, colloquialisms, and poetic diction. The video illustrates how each type can shape a story's setting, enhance character realism, and evoke emotional responses. It emphasizes the importance of word choice in conveying a writer's intent and advises viewers to be mindful of their language to create compelling, immersive narratives.

Takeaways

• 😀 Diction is the careful selection of words to communicate a message or establish a voice in writing.
• 🔍 Diction varies depending on the situation and can range from formal to informal, affecting how we communicate with different people.
• 🎨 The purpose of diction in writing includes creating tone, supporting the setting, establishing narrative voice and tone, and bringing characters to life.
• 🏛️ Formal diction uses sophisticated language and adheres to grammatical rules, often found in professional texts and literary works like Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.
• 💬 Informal diction is conversational and mimics everyday speech, making characters in fiction feel more realistic and relatable.
• 📚 Pedantic diction is detailed and academic, often used when characters speak in an educated manner or in literature that requires precise terminology.
• 🗣️ Colloquialism represents regional or temporal language, adding color and realism to writing by reflecting the characters' backgrounds.
• 🆚 Slang is language specific to a culture or subgroup, evolving within communities and used to depict characters' social identities.
• 🌌 Abstract diction expresses intangible concepts and emotions, often subjective and open to interpretation, unlike concrete diction which is specific and sensory.
• 📜 Poetic diction uses lyrical and harmonious language to create a specific mood, often involving rhythm and sound to enhance the writing's emotional impact.

Q & A

What is diction in the context of writing?

Diction is the careful selection of words to communicate a message or establish a particular voice or tone in writing.

Why do we alter our diction depending on the situation?

We alter our diction depending on the situation to suit different communication styles necessary at different times, such as addressing a stranger versus a good friend or a boss versus a child.

How does diction support the setting in fiction writing?

In fiction writing, the language an author uses supports the basic story elements like setting by using language native to that time and place, known as colloquial diction.

What is the purpose of diction in establishing a narrative voice and tone?

A writer's attitude towards the subject of a story comes through in the words they use, which helps establish tone and impacts the reader's emotional response.

How does diction bring characters to life in a story?

The way a character uses diction reflects personal details like age, gender, background, social setting, and profession, which helps to bring the characters to life.

What is formal diction and where is it commonly found?

Formal diction is the use of sophisticated language without slang or colloquialism, sticking to grammatical rules and complex syntax. It is often found in professional texts, business documents, and legal papers.

What is informal diction and how does it contribute to character depiction?

Informal diction is more conversational and representative of how people communicate in real life, giving an author the freedom to depict more realistic characters.

What is jargon and how does it function in writing?

Jargon is language specific to a subject, occupation, or business, often including abbreviations known mostly to people in that field. It helps build credibility in a story when used correctly.

How do colloquialisms add to the realism in writing?

Colloquialisms are informal words or expressions that represent a region or time, adding color and realism to writing by helping readers immerse themselves in the real lives and attitudes of characters.

What is the difference between abstract and concrete diction?

Abstract diction uses words to express intangible ideas or emotions, often lacking physical detail and being subjective. Concrete diction uses words for their literal meanings, often referring to things that appeal to the senses, and is specific and detailed.

How does poetic diction contribute to the mood of a piece?

Poetic diction is driven by lyrical words that relate to a specific theme and create euphonious or harmonious sound. It takes into account not only the meaning of each word but also its sound to create a mood.

Why is it important to be aware of the diction used in writing?

Being aware of the diction used in writing is important because it sets the tone of a piece and can significantly impact how entire sentences, paragraphs, or chapters read as a whole.