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12 Words That Describe Language

This document lists and defines 40 words that describe different aspects of language. Some of the words defined include: abstruse meaning difficult to understand, colloquial meaning informal, concrete meaning particular, emotional meaning arising from feeling rather than conscious effort, euphemistic meaning using mild terms to replace harsh ones, figurative meaning using figures of speech, idiomatic meaning peculiar to a group, learned meaning demonstrating profound knowledge, and symbolic meaning expressed through representation of something else.

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6K views

12 Words That Describe Language

This document lists and defines 40 words that describe different aspects of language. Some of the words defined include: abstruse meaning difficult to understand, colloquial meaning informal, concrete meaning particular, emotional meaning arising from feeling rather than conscious effort, euphemistic meaning using mild terms to replace harsh ones, figurative meaning using figures of speech, idiomatic meaning peculiar to a group, learned meaning demonstrating profound knowledge, and symbolic meaning expressed through representation of something else.

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word-herder
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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WORDS THAT DESCRIBE LANGUAGE: The Fabulous Forty

1. abstruse: difficult to understand


2. artificial: a language invented for a specific purpose and based on a set of prescribed rules; not
genuine or natural
3. bombastic: speech or writing marked by an extravagance or affectation of style that the content does
not warrant; grandiloquent or pompous
4. colloquial: characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect
of speech; informal
5. concrete: of or relating to an actual, specific thing or instance; particular
6. connotative: suggest or imply in addition to a literal meaning; words with suggested or associated
meanings
7. cultured: educated, polished, and refined
8. detached: marked by an absence of emotional involvement, and an impersonal objectivity
9. diatribe: a bitter, abusive denunciation
10. eloquence: a form of persuasion involving word choices based on moving an audience
11. emotional: a strong feeling that arises subjectively rather than through conscious effort
12. esoteric: intended for or understood by only a particular group, restricted number of people
13. euphemistic: substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive
14. exact: strictly and completely in accord with fact; not deviating from truth or reality
15. figurative: based on or making use of figures of speech; metaphorical
16. grotesque: characterized by ludicrous or incongruous distortion as of appearance or manner
17. homespun: simple and homely; unpretentious
18. idiomatic: peculiar to or characteristic of a given language or a particular group of people
19. incongruous: lacking in harmony; incompatible and inconsistent
20. insipid: lacking flavor or zest; dull
21. jargon: a hybrid language or dialogue; a pidgin (nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless language)
22. learned: demonstrating profound, often systematic knowledge; erudite
23. literal: conforming to the exact or primary meaning of a word or words; factual
24. moralistic: characterized by displaying the quality of being in accord with standards of right and
good conduct
25. obscure: not readily noticed or seen; ambiguous or vague
26. pedantic: characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules
27. picturesque: strikingly expressive or vivid
28. plain: not elaborate or complicated; simple; unaffected and unpretentious
29. poetic: having a quality or style characteristic of poetry
30. precise: clearly expressed or delineated
31. pretentious: marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious
32. provincial: not fashionable or sophisticated; limited in perspective
33. schmaltzy: of or marked by excessive or maudlin sentimentality
34. scholarly: characteristic of knowledge resulting from study of research (in a particular field)
35. sensuous: appealing to a gratifying of the senses (aesthetics)
36. simple: not involved or complicated
37. slang: a kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech; made up typically of short-
lived coinages and figures of speech that are used deliberately in place of standard terms for added
raciness, humor, irreverence or other affect; (language peculiar to a group)
38. symbolic: expressed by the representations of something else by association, resemblance, or
convention
39. trite: lacking power to evoke interest through overuse or repetition; hackneyed
40. vulgar: deficient in taste, delicacy, or refinement; crudely indecent
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