Two Sources on Concrete and Abstract Language
Abstract
The opposite of concrete -- general ideas like love and justice, or "Beauty is truth, truth
beauty," rather than physical tangibles like stone, house, frog."
Abstract Language
The word abstract derives from the Latin abstractus, which means "removed from." The term
is conventionally employed to describe ideas and words that are removed from material
reality. In speaking of language or diction, conventional linguists employ the term abstract to
identify words that are used to refer to concepts rather than concrete or physical reality.
Whereas words such asgirl, forest, and stone are commonly used to refer to persons, places,
and objects, words such aslove, peace, and steadfastness are more often employed to
express ideas or emotions.
In Wordsworth's sonnet entitled "London, 1802" for example, the speaker addresses himself
to the soul of John Milton and pleads for the restoration of the qualities of greatness
associated with a bygone era:
“. . . We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.”
Rather than pleading with the ghost of Milton to give his countrymen quantities of material
goods, Wordsworth calls on him to bestow the more abstract qualities of "virtue, freedom,
power."
Concrete
Possessing physical existence, capable of being experienced by the senses; the opposite of
abstract. Many concrete words or phrases can be defined by touching, pointing, or
acting: chair, sun, skate on ice. In practice, abstract terms may be used concretely, as in "this
beauty" for a specific beautiful object, and conctete terms may be used abstractly as in "my
house" for a dwelling planned but not yet built.
Concrete Language
The word concrete derives from the Latin verb concrescere, meaning "to grow together,
harden." In discussing diction, it is useful to oppose concrete language with abstract
language. Whereas abstract words such as love, peace, and steadfastness are used to
express ideas or emotions, concrete diction is used to refer to particular persons, places, and
objects: girl, forest, stone.Concrete language names or describes the perceptible and
material world; that is to say, concrete diction appeals to or engages the senses.
Gerard Manley Hopkins's "Pied Beauty" (1918) offers an example of concrete diction in
poetry:
“Glory be to God for dappled thingsFor skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pierced-fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.”
Hopkins clearly revels in language that appeals to the visual sense. These lines offer
specific, material examples of "dappled things."
The opening lines of Gary Soto's "History" (1977) offer another example of concrete diction:
Grandma lit the stove.
Morning sunlight
Lengthened in spears
Across the linoleum floor.
Wrapped in a shawl,
Her eyes small
With sleep,
She sliced papas,
Pounded chiles
With a stone
Bought from Guadalajara.
Instead of describing his subject as an early riser, Soto uses a language of specificity and
sensory appeal: "Her eyes small / With sleep." Likewise, rather than merely indicating that
she prepared food, the speaker describes her activities in concrete terms: "She sliced papas,
/ Pounded chiles / With a stone..."