Archaic words
These words are no longer in everyday use or have lost a particular meaning in current usage but are sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor to historical novels, for example, or in standard conversation or writing just for a humorous effect. Some, such as bedlam, reveal the origin of their current meaning, while others reveal the origin of a different modern word, as with gentle, the sense of which is preserved in gentleman. Some, such as learn and let, now mean the opposite of their former use. 1. Abroad-out of doors 2. Accouchement-birthing 3. Advertisement-a notice to readers in a book
Obsolete. Words
This label is attached to entry words and senses for which there is little or no printed evidence since 1755. A temporal label commonly used by lexicographers (that is, editors of dictionaries) to indicate that a word (or a particular form or sense of a word) is no longer in active use in speech and writing. 1. “bell, book, and candle” – the popes of old’s favoured way of excommunicating someone, but also a fancy way to intensify your retelling of screeching or railing at someone. 2. “with squirrel” – pregnant. 3. “balderdash” – once an adulterated wine, also an en mode way of saying that something is untrue.
Jargon Words
Jargon is a literary term that is defined as a use of specific phrases and words by writers in a particular situation, profession or trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and understood in that field. Jargon examples are found in literary and non-literary pieces of writing.
Common examples of Jargon
On cloud nine: Extremely happy
Sweet tooth: Someone who loves sweets is said to have a sweet tooth.
Shrink: Psychiatrist
Gumshoe/Private Eye: Detective
Poker face: Blank or unreadable expression
Ball park figure: A value that is numerically estimated
UFO: Unidentified Flying Object
Back Burner: Low priority given, something put off till a date
Functions of Jargons
The use of jargon is significant in prose and verse. It seems unintelligible to the people who do not know the meanings. Examples of jargon used in literature are used to emphasize a situation or to refer to something exotic to the readers or audience. In fact, the use of jargon in literature shows the dexterity of the writer of having knowledge of other spheres. Writers use jargon to make a certain character a real one in fiction as well as in plays and poetry.
Neologism
A neologism is a newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday usage. A neologism can be: A completely new word (e.g., oversharers), A new combination of existing words (e.g., digital detox) and A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., sick).
Neologisms are newly coined terms, words, or phrases that may be commonly used in everyday life but have yet to be formally accepted as constituting mainstream language. Neologisms represent the evolving nature of the English language. Over time people create new words that express concepts or ideas that were previously expressed using other words or use words that may not have existed at all. Neologisms can be completely new words, new meanings for existing words or new semes in existing words. 1. 404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message 404 Not Found, meaning that the requested document could not be located. 2. Troll: An individual who posts inflammatory, rude, and obnoxious comments to an online community. 3. Metrosexual: A man who dedicates a great deal of time and money to his appearance. 4. Vagjayjay: Slang term for the vagina that was believed to have been coined by Oprah.
Shop Talk
Talk about your business that only others in the same business can understand. Discussion about one's trade, business, or employment that only others in the same field can understand.
Figures of Speech
Any expressive use of language, as a metaphor, simile, personification, or antithesis, in which words are used in other than their literal sense, or in other than their ordinary locutions, in order to suggest a picture or image or for other special effect. 1. Alliteration- The repetition of an initial consonant sound. 2. Anaphora- The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses. (Contrast with epiphora and epistrophe.) 3. Antithesis- The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. 4. Apostrophe- Breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing, some abstract quality, an inanimate object, or a nonexistent character. 5. Assonance- Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. 6. Chiasmus- A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed. 7. Euphemism- The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit. 8. Hyperbole- An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. 9. Irony- The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. 10. Litotes- A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. 11. Metaphor- An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. 12. Metonymy- A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it's closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it. 13. Onomatopoeia- The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. 14. Oxymoron- A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side. 15. Paradox- A statement that appears to contradict itself. 16. Personification- A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities. 17. Pun- A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words. 18. Simile- A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common. 19. Synecdoche- A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole (for example,ABCs for alphabet) or the whole for a part ("England won the World Cup in 1966"). 20. Understatement- A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.
Idiomatic Expression
An idiom is a phrase, or a combination of words, that has developed a figurative meaning through frequency of use. Idioms are a staple in many different languages, and are often shared across languages through numerous translations. 1. A hot potato- Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed 2. It takes two to tango- Actions or communications need more than one person 3. Make a long story short- Come to the point - leave out details 4. Once in a blue moon- Meaning: Happens very rarely. 5. Steal someone's thunder- To take the credit for something someone else did.
Euphemism
A euphemism is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. To make an unpleasant word or expression sound politically and morally right and look less offensive, euphemism was invented. 1. Secretary - executive assistant, personal assistant 2. School - academy, conservatory 3. Boss - manager, supervisor, director 4. Fat - chubby, full-figured, plump, voluptuous, overweight, big boned 5. Offer sex - your place or mine?
Function of Euphemism
Euphemism helps writers to convey those ideas which have become a social taboo and are too embarrassing to mention directly. Writers skillfully choose appropriate words to refer to and discuss a subject indirectly which otherwise are not published due to strict social censorship e.g. religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, death etc. Thus, euphemism is a useful tool that allows writers to write figuratively about the libelous issues.
Cliché
A cliché or cliché is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, even to the point of being trite or irritating, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. 1. only time will tell – to become clear over time 2. a matter of time – to happen sooner or later 3. as clever as a fox – a cliché to describe a very clever person 4. They all lived happily ever after. 5. a diamond in the rough – a cliché to describe someone with a brilliant future

Function: A cliché is a traditional form of human expression (in words, thoughts, emotions, gestures, acts) which–due to repetitive use in social life–has lost its original, often ingenious heuristic power. Although it thus fails positively to contribute meaning to social interactions and communication, it does function socially, since it manages to stimulate behavior (cognition, emotion, volition, action), while it avoids reflection on meanings.
Slang
Words that are not a part of standard vocabulary or language and are used informally are called slang. These words are mostly used in speech rather than in writing. Slang can be divided into four different types; country slang, urban slang, gay slang and common slang. Country slang is used by those who are in the rural parts of a country, while urban slang is spoken by those from the city or by African-Americans. Gay slang is used by gays, bisexual, homosexuals or transsexuals. Common slang is used by almost everybody. 1. “Last night was flop. I was supposed to go to a party with my friends, but they flopped on me. They are all such floppers.”
-Here the slang term being used is “flop” which means a planned event does not happen. A flopper is someone who cancels the plan at the last minute.
2. “I’m so upset about my birthday party pictures. My brother is making faces behind me in every picture, what a photo bomb!”
-In the sentence above, “photo bomb” is the slang term. This is when a person or an object is accidentally or intentionally in a photo and as a result, ruins it.
Functions of Slang
Slang allows a person to become creative in the use of language. Some people use slang in order to communicate with each other informally. Similarly, people using slang are able to identify other members of their subculture easily.
Colloquial
In literature, colloquialism is the use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing. Colloquial expressions tend to sneak in as writers, being part of a society, are influenced by the way people speak in that society. Naturally, they are bound to add colloquial expressions in their vocabulary. However, writers use such expressions intentionally too as it gives their works a sense of realism. For instance, in a fiction story depicting American society, a greeting “what’s up?” between friends will seem more real and appropriate than the formal “How are you?” and “How do you do?” 1. a bunch of numpties – a group of idiots 2. wanna – want to 3. gonna – going to 4. y’all – you all 5. go nuts – go insane or be very angry
Functions of Colloquial
Colloquial expressions, in a piece of literature, may give us deep insights into the writer’s society. They tell us about how people really talk in their real life. Therefore, they help a writer to form strong connections with readers. Colloquial expressions impart a sense of realism to a piece of literature which again attracts readers as they identify it with their real life. Moreover, they add variety to the characters which makes them more interesting and memorable.
Concrete
Concrete words refer to tangible, qualities or characteristics, things we know through our senses. Words and phrases like "102 degrees," "obese Siamese cat," and "deep spruce green" are concrete. * To excel in college, you’ll need to do go to every class; do all your reading before you go; write several drafts of each paper; and review your notes for each class weekly.
Specific
Specific words designate particular items or individual cases, so "ISU Bengals," chemistry tutor," and "Halo" are specific terms. * Kelly enjoyed Professor Sprout's 8:00 a.m. Herbology class.
General
General words refer to large classes and broad areas. "Sports teams," "jobs," and "video games" are general terms. * The student enjoyed the class.