Diction and Redundancy

DICTION AND
REDUNDANCY
Diction
• It refers to the choice of words and style of expression
that an author makes and uses in a work of literature.
• It can have a great effect on the tone of a piece of
literature, and how readers perceive the characters.
FOR EXAMPLE
Consider the difference…
“I am much obliged to you, sir”
VS
“Thanks a bunch, buddy!”
The former expression of gratitude sounds much more formal than the latter, and both would
sound out of place if used in the wrong situation.
COMMON EXAMPLES OF DICTION
• “Could you be so kind as to pass me the milk?” Vs. “Give me that!”

• “I regret to inform you that that is not the case.” Vs. “You’re wrong!”
• “It is a pleasure to see you again! How are you today?” Vs. “Hey, what’s up?”
• “I’m a bit upset,” Vs. “I’m so pissed off.”
• “I would be delighted!” Vs. “Sure, why not?”
• “I’ll do it right away, sir,” Vs. “Yeah, just a sec.”
SIGNIFICANCE OF DICTION IN
LITERATURE
• The diction in a piece establishes many different aspects of how we read the work of
literature, from its formality to its tone even to the type of story we are reading.
• For example, there could be two practically identical spy novels, but in one we are
privileged to the main character’s innermost thoughts about the situation while in the
other we only see what the main character doe
Examples of Diction in Literature
Example #1
MACBETH: Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch
thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art
thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight?
Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false
creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd
brain?
Vs
MACBETH: I have done the deed. – Didst thou not
hear a noise? LADY MACBETH: I heard the owl
scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?
MACBETH: When? LADY MACBETH: Now.
MACBETH: As I descended? LADY MACBETH:
Ay.
(Macbeth by William Shakespeare)
This is an interesting example of diction from Shakespeare’s famous
tragedy Macbeth. As modern readers, we often consider Shakespeare’s
language to be quite formal, as it is filled with words like “thou” and “thy”
as well as archaic syntax such as in Macbeth’s questions “Didst thou not
hear a noise?” However, there is striking difference in the diction between
these two passages. In the first, Macbeth is contemplating a murder in
long, expressive sentences. In the second excerpt, Macbeth has just
committed a murder and has a rapid-fire exchange with his wife, Lady
Macbeth. The different word choices that Shakespeare makes shows the
different mental states that Macbeth is in in these two nearby scenes.
• Example #2
It seemed to me that a careful examination of the

room and the lawn might possibly reveal some traces
of this mysterious individual. You know my methods,
Watson. There was not one of them which I did not
apply to the inquiry. And it ended by my discovering
traces, but very different ones from those which I had
expected.
- The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
•
This diction example is quite formal, even though Sherlock Holmes is
speaking to his close friend Dr. Watson. He speaks in very full sentences
and with elevated language (“might possibly reveal some traces” and “not
one of them which I did not apply to the inquiry”). When speaking to such
a close acquaintance, most people would choose other constructions and
less formal language. However, this diction employed by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle shows that Sherlock Holmes is always a very formal
character, no matter the situation.
• Example #3
You just hold your head high and

keep those fists down. No matter
what anybody says to you, don’t you
let ’em get your goat. Try fighting
with your head for a change.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper

Lee
This is a quote from Atticus Finch, the father of To Kill a Mockingbird’s
narrator, Scout. Atticus uses very formal language in his profession, as he
is a celebrated lawyer. When speaking to his daughter, though, he changes
his diction and uses short, simple phrases and words. He also uses the
clichés “hold your head high” and “don’t you let ‘em get your goat.” This
informal diction shows his close relationship to his daughter and makes
him seem more approachable than if we only saw him in his lawyerly role.
• Example #4
His adolescent nerdliness vaporizing any iota of a

chance he had for young love. Everybody else
going through the terror and joy of their first
crushes, their first dates, their first kisses while
Oscar sat in the back of the class, behind his
DM’s screen, and watched his adolescence stream
by. Sucks to be left out of adolescence, sort of like
getting locked in the closet on Venus when the sun
appears for the first time in a hundred years.
- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Contemporary writer Junot Díaz is noted for using a very distinct diction
in his books. He often sprinkles in Spanish words and phrases in his works
to make his characters—many of whom are from the Dominican Republic
—seem more authentic. In this excerpt from his novel The Brief
Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Díaz uses very informal language, even
creating the word “nerdliness.” He uses the slang term “sucks” to
reinforce the sense of his character Oscar’s youth.
REDUNDANCY
• Redundancy means superfluity or using words unnecessarily or
using words for a second time. Redundancy in English usually
happens when an adjective is added to a verb or noun that
means the same thing.
Example-1:
If all of us cooperate together, we will succeed.

In this sentence, the words cooperate and together have been used. But both these words convey the
same meaning.
One of the two words should be dropped in order to make the sentence a correct one.
If all of us cooperate, we will succeed.

If all of us work together, we will succeed.
Both these sentences are correct ones.

Example-2:
The accused was guilty of false misstatement .
This sentence uses false and misstatement whereas both these words convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence:
The accused was guilty of misstatement.

Example-3:
It was the general consensus of opinion that we must go to the movie.
The two words which convey the same meaning are consensus and opinion. One word should be removed
to make this sentence correct one.
The correct sentence:
It was the general opinion that we must go to the movie.

Example-4:
The three brothers had nothing in common with each other .
Here also two phrases in common and with each other have been used to convey the same meaning.
The correct sentence is:
The three brothers had nothing in common.

Example-5:
I am enclosing herewith my bio-data.
Enclosing and herewith are the two words which convey the same meaning.
I am enclosing my bio-data.
Example-6:
There was an ovation when the minister rose up to speak.
The two words (rose and up) convey the same meaning.
There was an ovation when the minister rose to speak.

• Sources:
• http://www.literarydevices.com/diction/
• http://www.english-for-students.com/Redundancy.html

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DICTION AND

• “Could you be so kind as to pass me the milk?” Vs. “Give me that!”

It seemed to me that a careful examination of the

You just hold your head high and

- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper

His adolescent nerdliness vaporizing any iota of a

If all of us cooperate together, we will succeed.

If all of us cooperate, we will succeed.

Both these sentences are correct ones.

The accused was guilty of false misstatement .

The correct sentence:

The accused was guilty of misstatement.

It was the general consensus of opinion that we must go to the movie.

The correct sentence:

It was the general opinion that we must go to the movie.

The three brothers had nothing in common with each other .

The correct sentence is:

The three brothers had nothing in common.

I am enclosing herewith my bio-data.

The correct sentence is:

There was an ovation when the minister rose up to speak.

The correct sentence is:

There was an ovation when the minister rose to speak.

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