foregrounding
Making language stand-out
Foregrounding is the technique of making something stand out from its background or context.
In literature and linguistics, foregrounding draws attention to particular elements through unusual language, repetition, or deviation from expected patterns: The poet's foregrounding of harsh consonants creates a sense of violence.
More broadly, to foreground something is to emphasize it, bring it to the front: The documentary foregrounds the voices of survivors.
Most notable part
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- accentuateTo give emphasis
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
- prioritizeRank by importance
feature · showcase · amplify · heighten · intensify · stress · focus · illuminate
Repeated opening words
- repetitionAct of redoing
- parallelismMatching structural elements
- defamiliarizationMaking common things seem strange
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
Concentrated attention point
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
vigilance · concentration · engagement · noticing · salience · heed · observation
Adjacent contrasting placement
- figure-groundPerceptual separation of object and background
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- reliefEasing of distress
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
differentiation · layering · depth · separation · hierarchy · counterpoint · recede
highlight
Most notable part
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- accentuateTo give emphasis
- underscoreLow horizontal text mark
prioritize · feature · showcase · amplify · heighten · intensify · stress · focus · illuminate · centerpiece
anaphora
Repeated opening words
- repetitionAct of redoing
- parallelismMatching structural elements
- defamiliarizationMaking common things seem strange
focus
Concentrated attention point
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
mindfulness · vigilance · concentration · engagement · noticing · salience · heed · observation
juxtaposition
Adjacent contrasting placement
- figure-groundPerceptual separation of object and background
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- reliefEasing of distress
distinction · differentiation · layering · depth · separation · hierarchy · counterpoint · recede
foregroundingbackgrounding
De-emphasizing something's prominence
obscuring · hiding · receding · burying · concealing
foregroundingdownplaying
Diminishing perceived significance
de-emphasizing · backgrounding · minimizing · suppressing · obscuring
foregroundingautomatization
Making processes self-operating
backgrounding · normalization · familiarization · conventionalizing · naturalizing
background, foreground, backgrounds, backgrounded, backgrounding, foregrounds, foregrounded