Final answer:
The author's use of specific nouns, verbs, and phrases to create meaning in a work is known as diction, which is a key component of the author's overall style and affects the tone, voice, and emotional impact of the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of specific nouns, verbs, and phrases by an author to contribute to the meaning of a work is referred to as diction. Diction encompasses the choice of words and the style of expression that an author uses in a piece of literature. Through meticulous selection of words, authors are able to convey nuanced meanings, evoke emotions, and establish a distinct voice. For example, the choice of a word like "tome" instead of "book" can suggest a large, heavy, or scholarly volume, and thus contributes to a richer understanding of the text.
Style is a broader literary device that includes diction as well as other elements like tone and sentence structure. An author's style reflects their attitude towards their subject and can significantly influence the reader's experience. Both diction and style are central to literary analysis, as they serve as tools for the author to convey themes and emotions.
Additionally, varying the sentence structure and utilizing stylistic devices like sentence fragments or repetition can add depth and an emotional dimension to the narrative, further illustrating the importance of such choices in literature.