{"id":363,"date":"2012-04-02T16:55:20","date_gmt":"2012-04-02T23:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transfer.writingcommons.org\/2012\/04\/02\/use-concrete-sensory-language\/"},"modified":"2023-07-23T22:04:44","modified_gmt":"2023-07-23T21:04:44","slug":"concrete-language-sensory-language","status":"publish","type":"section","link":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Concrete Language, Sensory Language"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tts_content_wrapper_2\" >\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#What_is_Concrete_Language_Sensory_Language\" title=\"What is Concrete Language, Sensory Language?\">What is Concrete Language, Sensory Language?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#Why_Does_Concrete_Sensory_Language_Matter\" title=\"Why Does Concrete, Sensory Language Matter?\">Why Does Concrete, Sensory Language Matter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#How_Can_I_Revise_My_Language_to_be_More_Concrete_More_Sensory\" title=\"How Can I Revise My Language to be More Concrete, More Sensory?\">How Can I Revise My Language to be More Concrete, More Sensory?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#Replace_abstract_language_with_words_that_have_clear_direct_and_precise_meaning\" title=\"Replace abstract language with words that have clear, direct, and precise meaning.\">Replace abstract language with words that have clear, direct, and precise meaning.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#Use_language_that_appeals_to_the_senses\" title=\"Use language that appeals to the senses.\">Use language that appeals to the senses.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/elements-of-style\/diction\/concrete-language-sensory-language\/#Recommended_Resources\" title=\"Recommended Resources\">Recommended Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-concrete-language-sensory-language\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Concrete_Language_Sensory_Language\"><\/span>What is Concrete Language, Sensory Language?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><em>Concrete, Sensory Language<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>references specific places, events, people, and tangible topics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>invokes the readers&#8217; senses (taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an attribute of <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/text-composition\/\">prose<\/a> associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/clarity\/\">clarity<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/simplicity\/\">simplicity<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>C<em>oncrete, sensory language<\/em> is the antithesis of <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/abstract-language\/\">abstract language<\/a>, which tends to be intangible and metaphysical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related Concepts: <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-reasoning\/rhetorical-modes\/description\/\">Description<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/\">Diction<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/figurative-language\/\">Figurative Language<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/collaboration\/coauthorship\/\">Vague Language<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/styles-of-writing\/writer-based-prose-style\/\">Writer-Based Prose Style<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-concrete-sensory-language-matter\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Does_Concrete_Sensory_Language_Matter\"><\/span>Why Does <em>Concrete, Sensory Language <\/em>Matter? <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Concrete<\/em>, <em>sensory language<\/em> provides the level of detail, the level of specificity, that <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">readers, listeners,and  users<\/a> need to understand and properly imagine and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/interpretation\/\">interpret<\/a> a <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/text-composition\/\">text<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic use of <em>concrete, sensory language<\/em> is a defining characteristic of <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/styles-of-writing\/reader-based-prose-style\/\">reader-based prose.<\/a> Inexperienced writers often struggle to imagine the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-reasoning\/rhetorical-modes\/description\/\">descriptive details<\/a> readers need to follow along<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>develop the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/register\/\">register<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-stance\/\">the rhetorical stance<\/a>, needed to communicate in home, school, and workplace discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Concrete language<\/em> doesn&#8217;t require as much mental processing on the part of the <meta charset=\"utf-8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">reader, listener, or user<\/a> as <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/abstract-language\/\">abstract language<\/a>. For instance, if you use the word <em>chair<\/em> in a text, you know your readers will have a pretty clear idea in their mind about what a <em>chair<\/em> is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/text-composition\/\">texts<\/a> that employ <em>concrete, sensory language<\/em> are more readable than texts that rely primarily on <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction-word-choice-writing-speech\/abstract-language\/\">abstract language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/collaboration\/coauthorship\/\">vague, overgeneralized language<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one&#8217;s real and one&#8217;s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cuttlefish\">cuttlefish<\/a>&nbsp;spurting out ink.<br><br>Probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one\u2019s meaning as clear as one can through pictures and sensations. Afterward one can choose\u2014not simply&nbsp;<em>accept<\/em>\u2014the phrases that will best cover the meaning<\/p>\n<cite>George Orwell, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orwellfoundation.com\/the-orwell-foundation\/orwell\/essays-and-other-works\/politics-and-the-english-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Politics and the English Language<\/a> (2013)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-i-revise-my-language-to-be-more-concrete-more-sensory\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_I_Revise_My_Language_to_be_More_Concrete_More_Sensory\"><\/span>How Can I Revise My Language to be More Concrete, More Sensory?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Replace_abstract_language_with_words_that_have_clear_direct_and_precise_meaning\"><\/span>Replace <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/abstract-language\/\">abstract language<\/a> with words that have clear, direct, and precise meaning.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abstract Language Example:<\/strong> The case sought to establish <em>equality<\/em> for people of all sexual orientations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Critique<\/strong>: Here, equity is an <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/diction\/abstract-language\/\">abstraction<\/a>. After all, <em>equality<\/em> can mean a variety of things to different people: What does <em>equality<\/em> mean in this instance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Revision:<\/strong> The case sought to legalize gay marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_language_that_appeals_to_the_senses\"><\/span>Use language that appeals to the senses.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Abstract Language Example<\/strong>:<\/strong> The waiting room was <em>unpleasant<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Critique<\/strong>: What makes this setting <em>unpleasant<\/em>? Replace this term with specific descriptive language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Concrete:<\/strong> The waiting room was cold, antiseptic-smelling, and crowded with sick people who were coughing, groaning, or crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-recommended-resources\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommended_Resources\"><\/span>Recommended Resources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hayakawa, S. I. (1964). <em>Language in Thought and Action<\/em>. Harcourt, brace &amp; world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ohmann, R. (1979). Use definite, specific, concrete language. <em>College English, 41<\/em>(4), 390-397.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orwell, G. (2013). <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orwellfoundation.com\/the-orwell-foundation\/orwell\/essays-and-other-works\/politics-and-the-english-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Politics and the English language<\/a><\/em>. Penguin Classics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Balmford, C. (n.d.). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plainlanguage.gov\/resources\/articles\/beyond-a-movement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Plain language: Beyond a movement<\/em><\/a>. PlainLanguage.gov. https:\/\/www.plainlanguage.gov\/resources\/articles\/beyond-a-movement\/<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":38675,"parent":2148,"menu_order":7,"template":"","tags":[967,706,961,965,962,966,964,963],"chapters":[1980,1981],"class_list":["post-363","section","type-section","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-appeals-to-senses","tag-clear","tag-communicate-ideas","tag-concrete-language","tag-concrete-terms","tag-precise-meaning","tag-relate","tag-tangible","chapters-concrete-language","chapters-diction"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/section"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57085,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/363\/revisions\/57085"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/2148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=363"},{"taxonomy":"chapters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapters?post=363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}