Pedantic Diction:What,How,Examples (Complete Guide !)

Pedantic diction and related examples in this article will help you to choose your wise diction.

Pedantic diction is all about exaggerating oneself to show one’s own importance to others by searching minute faults in behaviour or language of others.

What is pedantic diction?

Among eight diction of language, pedantic diction is the least used diction. Pedantic diction was used by speaker to convey a specific meaning but not with single words. Rather the speaker used exaggerated words to convey a simple meaning.

Let’s look at ten Features of pedantic diction –

1. Pedantic diction is used to show off speaking skill.
2. This diction can be used by anyone to do show off.
3. Words in pedantic diction need to choose wisely to state a particular meaning.
4. The speaker speaks pedantic diction in highly educative manner.
5. Pedantic diction is all about elevated language.
6. Pedantic dictions are sometime over the top to understand.
7. A simple meaning conveyed in pedantic diction in complex manner.
8. Accuracy of sentence formation is important in pedantic diction.
9. Pedantic diction is very formal in manner.
10. Pedantic diction always used by speaker to show his or her own importance to others by impressing others.

Example –

My adored son, I am your mother and I love you more than this world but my moral is not allowing me to give you money to buy some card game for enjoyment.

Explanation –

Here, the meaning of the sentence is simple. The mother is not interested to give money to son but rather speaking it directly, she used exaggerated words to show off her speaking skill.

Read more about Is Alliteration Figurative Language?

How to use pedantic diction?

We can transform our normal diction to a pedantic diction by following ways.

Add elevated language –

First way to transform normal diction to pedantic is to add elevated language in our diction.

Add high academic words –

Second way to transform normal diction to pedantic is to add high academic words in our diction.

To convey a single meaning at one time –

Third way to transform normal diction to pedantic is to convey a single meaning at one time in our diction.

Add character which is highly educated, sophisticated and always speaks in highly educative manner –

Fourth way to transform normal diction in our writing to pedantic is to add character which is highly educated, sophisticated and always speaks in highly educative manner.

Add detailed and precise language –

Fifth way to transform normal diction to pedantic is to add detailed and precise language in our diction.

Add lofty words –

Sixth way to transform normal diction to pedantic is to add lofty words in our language.

Awareness about minor grammatical details –

Seventh way to transform normal diction to pedantic is all about awareness about minor grammatical details in our speaking or writing.

Add long and complex words –

Eighth way to transform normal diction to pedantic is add long and complex words in our diction.

Add ‘Archaic Words’ –

Ninth way to transform normal diction to pedantic is add ‘Archaic Words’ in our diction.

Create formal impression –

Tenth way to transform normal diction to pedantic is all about creating formal impression in our diction.

Example –

Emma decorated herself with best quality perfumes, powder, dress, shoes, hair accessories and sophisticated manner to impress her lovelorn, respected, heartiest lover who is also her husband.

Explanation –

Instead of directly conveying the fact that Emma dressed up to impress her husband, the writer used elevated, archaic and formal words to convey the same meaning in the above mentioned pedantic diction.

Pedantic usage-

Let’s look at various use of pedantic diction.

First, Particular about detailing –

The pedantic diction speaker must be particular about minute grammatical or syntax details of the language.

Second, Academic Mode –

Pedantic dictions are highly recommended in academic writing work.

Third, One single meaning at one time –

Though a pedantic sentence use more than at least fifteen words at one time but all the words of pedantic diction convey only single meaning at one time.

Fourth, Structuring character in literary works –

Authors can use pedantic diction to show characters of their literary work in highly educated manner.

Fifth, To create an impression –

If you want to create a high esteemed impression of yours then you can use elaborated and lengthy pedantic diction to create an impressive impression among your listeners or readers.

Sixth, Words and phrases which are over the top –

Pedantic diction users use very age old words, phrases and idioms which are over the top for common people.

Seventh, To show off excessive knowledge –

Most of the pedantic dictions are in use to show off excessive knowledge of the speaker or the writer.

Eighth, Indirect Speaking –

Pedantic dictions are great to convey the intention of the speaker with sophisticate language but without hurting the listener.

Example –

My son is going to play the most demanding, most famous, most sophisticated, most cultured and most lengthy game which is known as Cricket.

Explanation –

The simple version of the above mentioned pedantic diction is ‘My son is going to play cricket’. Here, we can easily understand the difference between use of lofty words and elevated language in a normal diction and in a pedantic diction.

Where to use pedantic diction?

Let’s look at ten situations where we can use pedantic diction to impress others.

Situation 01 – We can use pedantic diction by adding elevated language in our conversation or writing.

Situation 02 – We must use wisely because all the words of pedantic diction should convey one single meaning.

Situation 03 – Pedantic diction must be used in a way that it sounds like words of a highly educated person.

Situation 04 – We can use pedantic diction to show any character of literature in highly educated and sophisticated manner.

Situation 05 – We must be concern about both detailing and preciseness of the language used in pedantic diction.

Situation 06 – We can use pedantic diction to write a poem. Pedantic diction in a poem creates impressive impression among readers. Pedantic diction sounds good while reciting a poem.

Situation 07 – We can use pedantic diction by looking at minor details of any conversation or writing work.

Situation 08 – We can use pedantic diction by adding long and complex words in our conversation or writing work.

Situation 09 – We must be concerned to use ‘Archaic Words’ in our conversation or writing work to create an ideal pedantic diction.

Situation 10 – Pedantic diction to be used to create a formal impression among readers or the listeners.

Example –

Oh, my dear God! Please bestow my with your love and blessings as I am your earnest servant who always bow in front of you to accept own mistake for the welfare of my own family and society.

Explanation –

The ultimate meaning of this long pedantic diction is nothing but seeking love and blessings from God. Instead of asking straight, the speaker took the option of pedantic diction to convey the same meaning but with an elevated, formal & grammatically correct language.

Pedantic examples–

Example 01 – Hurray! Because of this new kid my life has become so lovely and energetic which can charm me to live another ten years with full enthusiasm and energy.

Explanation – The normal diction of the above mentioned pedantic diction is ‘Hurray! My life becomes full of joy because of this new kid. Here, we can find lofty words which had been added to the normal diction to make the same a pedantic one.

Example 02 – I like to pamper this vexatious, troublesome, roguish, prankish, malevolent, hostile tine little boy demon.

Explanation – Now, look carefully at choice of words of the speaker to convey a particular meaning which is hidden in the above mentioned pedantic diction. Originally the speaker doesn’t like the naughty boy but instead of saying that directly, the speaker took the shelter of pedantic diction to convey his or her true thinking about the boy.

Example 03 – Though I have done my household chores satisfactorily but I am always perturbed about the corresponding even if I am sleeping or eating my food after completion of my whole day exertion.

Explanation – Words used in above mentioned pedantic diction are quiet high in academic level, like; perturbed, corresponding, exertion etc. Use of high academic level of words is one of the major characteristic of pedantic diction.

Example 04 – I like to spend some pretentious time of my life in this fathomless greenwood as I think I am in endearment with this woodland.

Explanation – In the above mentioned pedantic diction, we can found some words which above the top for a common man. Though the meaning of the words are simple but the speaker  intentionally used those words to make it a pedantic diction, like; the meaning of the word ‘pretentious’ is ‘precious’, the meaning of the word ‘endearment’ is ‘love. Thus, we can say that the speaker used these pedantic words to create an impression.

Example 05 –  My Lord, I don’t want to show any evidence of my innocence as I have a very high self esteem which I don’t want to degrade by showing proof of innocence to anyone.

Explanation – Here, the simple meaning of the above mentioned pedantic diction is ‘I will not show any proof of innocence’. The speaker used this lofty pedantic diction to create an impression of himself or herself upon the judge.

Conclusion –

A reader must not mix up pedantic diction with literary term ‘Exaggeration’. Though both of them have some similar characteristics but their use is difference. Exaggeration is all about exaggerating a small thing to a large one while ‘pedantic diction’ is all about conveying a simple meaning without exaggerating it but through a lengthy method.