IBDP Language and Literature Terms

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Accent

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Refers to the pronunciation of a language, often confused with dialect, which involves vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

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Actual reader

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An individual or individuals who actually read or listen to a text.

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Actual writer

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The individual or individuals who actually produce a text.

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Adjective

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A word class used to modify nouns.

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Adverb

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A word class used for modifying adjectives and verbs, indicating time, manner, and place. Includes adverbs of manner and degree.

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Alliteration

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The repetition of sound at the beginning of several words, used to express lyrical qualities.

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Allusion

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A form of figurative language referencing text, event, person, or place, relying on contextual knowledge.

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Examples of allusion

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1. "I'm not allowed to apply until I've filled out an application. It's a Catch-22." (reference to a novel by Joseph Heller) 2. "Let's see, my dilemma for today: To teach or not to teach, that is the question." (reference to Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

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Analogy

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A cognitive process of transferring traits from one thing or idea to another. Often used in propaganda to persuade an audience by making unjust comparisons.

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Anaphora

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The repetition of the same word or phrase in a succession of phrases or sentences, often used for rhetorical or 'literary' effect.