1. Connotative Language: This refers to words that evoke feelings or associations beyond their literal meaning. They are rich in emotional weight and contribute to the overall mood or tone of a piece of writing. For example, "home" evokes feelings of warmth and comfort, while "prison" suggests confinement and despair.
2. Diction: This refers to the author's choice of words. By choosing specific words with strong emotional connotations, writers can create certain effects. For example, using words like "anguish" or "exultation" will evoke stronger emotions than using more neutral words like "sadness" or "happiness."
3. Pathos: This is a literary device that appeals to the reader's emotions. Writers use pathos to create empathy, evoke a sense of sorrow, or inspire the reader to take action. Pathos often relies on the use of emotionally charged language.
4. Imagery: This refers to vivid descriptions that appeal to the reader's senses. Using sensory details can evoke strong emotions, such as the smell of fresh bread (comfort), the sound of thunder (fear), or the feeling of warm sunshine (joy).
5. Figurative Language: This includes metaphors, similes, personification, and other figures of speech that create a deeper connection to the reader. These devices can be used to convey complex emotions or to highlight certain feelings.
6. Tone: The overall feeling or attitude conveyed by the author in their writing. Tone is influenced by the writer's choice of words, sentence structure, and other literary elements. A piece with an emotional tone will likely use language that evokes strong feelings in the reader.
Instead of a single term, consider focusing on the specific aspect of emotional language you want to describe:
* Intensity: Are the words highly charged or more subtle?
* Specificity: Do they evoke specific emotions, or are they broader in their appeal?
* Purpose: How are the words used to manipulate the reader's feelings?
Ultimately, the best way to understand the use of emotional language is to analyze specific examples of writing and consider how the author's word choices create a particular effect on the reader.