Andrew Chao-Week 2 Phrasing of Words
Andrew Chao
Ms.Benedetti
Apeng 5
1 February 2022 [9:57]
Phrasing of Words
I have always wondered what diction really means when it comes to a group of words. Over this whole school year, we have gradually mentioned it here and there. Authors mostly use it in novels to create a certain tone such as suspense, shock, mystery, or an empty room rather than also describing the setting and emotions that the characters portray.
Diction as it seems not only appears in English classes but our daily lives and speaking less of a word or speaking the words in a specific order detracts or expands the original intent made by the speaker. Something may be as if "I am full" stating that you don't want to eat anymore and are ready to get off the dinner table any moment. Now this would be different if someone is offering you more food as it would most likely hurt the cook as you might not be actually full like you stated but dislike or have no taste in their food. This would be different if the cook offers you food, but you say "Nope, thanks for offering the food to me, but I am actually full ". Speaking more words and specifically wording this way tells the offer or cook that you are actually full, but you enjoyed their cooking while it lasted on the dinner table. Similarly, this can also be applied to when we use adverbs to broaden the noun, for example expressing more gratitude than just a "thank you". This can be as something like "thank you so much" which also relates to this rule in Japanese or Korea on the angle of their bow is the level of appreciation to the person.
Comments
It is incredibly important how you phrase your words. Like you said, the way authors phrase their words can convey an intended emotion or message within them. The example you mentioned within your blog was a pretty good example of this concept. Saying “I don’t want to eat anymore” feels different from saying “I’m full.” The latter is a more polite response, and indicates why you don’t want to eat more food. However, the other option has a varied amount of interpretations. Learning more about diction and intonation can help you communicate better with others.
I thought your post was insightful, and I liked how you use multiple examples to explain what you are saying. I personally believe that the importance of diction in our daily lives is often underestimated. When people think of diction they often think of the word choice that authors are making in novels(and this was also something that I used to think). However, I have come to realize that the specific diction we use in our daily lives is also important, and the contrasts between diction can especially be seen between informal and more formal settings. When I am talking to my friends, my diction is very different from when I am talking to a stranger or a teacher since it is less casual. Knowing the type of diction to use in different settings is very important.
I agree with how the phrasing of words has a huge impact on the feeling it gives off. The thing about diction is that sometimes it is hard to come up with phrases that can properly communicate your true meaning. In addition, these nuances, however, can only be detected by native speakers, so some immigrants may accidentally come off as rude. It is important to take this into account while listening to others' words.
I enjoyed reading your blog this time around, especially because it has much to do with what we’ve learned in APEng. Phrasing is a huge deal—different phrasing of sentences have the ability to convey completely different meanings. This doesn’t overshadow the importance of tone when saying these sentences verbally. Of course, this is a separate case to reading text where it’s even more difficult to decipher emotions behind words.
-Angel Susantin
I really like how you gave us many examples of how diction impacts how we express our feelings. I also think that this blog post is really important in understanding how this would impact us in participating in conversations with different people. Many situations call for different tones like how a speech is supposed to be formal and a conversation is informal.
Sincerely,
Mrinmayee Sama
The way we choose our words and phrases can impact other peoples’ feelings and influence their reactions. The example you made about refusing food from a chef was easy to understand and although now it can’t really happen (because of covid) it definitely still occurs throughout our daily lives. For example, I have learned that if I say, “Please don’t disturb me, I am doing homework” instead of “Go away” to my parents they are more likely to respect my privacy and allow me to do my work peacefully without constantly trying to nag me. But if I had used the second option, “Go away” I usually got scolded for being rude and mean. I learned that the way we phrase our words can either help or harm others.
Sincerely,
Faith Tong
I really loved that you brought this up. Diction is used everywhere, not just in english class. The more words you say and your tone ultimately gives your statements or questions more depth and character. Personally I like when people use more diction in texts vs just a simple sentence. It gives me a better idea of what they are saying to me or asking of me. I feel like nowadays, outside of school, people use less diction especially on social media and in person. I just feel like this generation has gotten lazy and want to talk less, I can also relate lol.