This list includes 2 Literary devices that start with X that start with X, from “Xenoglossia” to “Xenophasia”. They often involve foreign speech, language effects, or unusual voice techniques used to explore identity and cultural difference.

Literary devices that start with X are techniques authors use to represent foreign languages, strange speech, or unexpected vocal phenomena. Notably, “xenoglossia” appears in spiritualist texts and some novels to suggest supernatural knowledge or linguistic mystery.

Below you’ll find the table with Device, Definition, and Example.

Device: A single-word entry identifies the literary device so you can quickly find its form and spelling.

Definition: A concise definition explains the device’s purpose and typical effect so you can apply it in analysis or writing.

Example: A brief contextual sentence shows the device in use so you can recognize or model it quickly.

Literary devices that start with X

NameTypeFunctionExample
XenoglossiaNarrative plot deviceIndicates supernatural influence or a character’s hidden pastA child suddenly speaks a forgotten, ancient language
XenophasiaDialogue techniquePortrays a character’s confused or multilingual stateThe pain… es un fuego… a fire inside

Descriptions

Xenoglossia
The ability to speak a language one has never learned. It’s used in fiction to introduce supernatural, fantasy, or sci-fi elements, revealing a character’s secret connection to another time, place, or being. (Sources: Literary Devices, Genre Fiction Glossaries)
Xenophasia
The act of unintentionally mixing words from different languages. Writers use this device in dialogue for characterization, showing a character’s distress, cultural background, or the complexities of an immigrant experience. (Sources: Modernist literary analysis, Post-colonial theory)
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