Figurative Language Versus Literal Language
Figurative Language versus Literal Language
Figurative language, which some may refer to as “figure of speech”, is a type of language that utilizes description to produce a particular illustration and reveal a person’s emotion. It is, also, said that figurative language is associated with the human senses. Figurative language contains words that produce an intuition or thought of what the author wants his or her audience to know. At the end of the day figurative language plays an important role in our everyday speech and writing. Literal language, on the other hand, is words that articulate precisely what the author wants his or her audience to know. Using and misusing figurative language may make it more difficult for others to engage in productive thinking. The next few paragraphs will outline phrases that are used in figurative and literal languages.
Idiom is defined as a group of words whose meaning cannot be predicted from the meanings of the constituent words (Dictionary.com, 2013). An example of this term would be “it was raining cats and dogs”. When a person hears this phrase, they automatically think how animals can be represented as rain drops. It seems impossible to even imagine it raining in that form. The comparison of the rain and animals resembles how hard the rain is coming down.
Analogy is defined as a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based (Dictionary.com, 2013). An example of this term would be “the analogy between the heart and a pump”. Naturally, a heart beats on is own and when the heart stops no more blood circulates to the heard. A pump circulates a flow, as well, and will continue to until the circulation is interrupted. Both items serve the same purpose, as far as circulation, even though they are two different objects.
Metaphor is defined as a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance
Figurative language, which some may refer to as “figure of speech”, is a type of language that utilizes description to produce a particular illustration and reveal a person’s emotion. It is, also, said that figurative language is associated with the human senses. Figurative language contains words that produce an intuition or thought of what the author wants his or her audience to know. At the end of the day figurative language plays an important role in our everyday speech and writing. Literal language, on the other hand, is words that articulate precisely what the author wants his or her audience to know. Using and misusing figurative language may make it more difficult for others to engage in productive thinking. The next few paragraphs will outline phrases that are used in figurative and literal languages.
Idiom is defined as a group of words whose meaning cannot be predicted from the meanings of the constituent words (Dictionary.com, 2013). An example of this term would be “it was raining cats and dogs”. When a person hears this phrase, they automatically think how animals can be represented as rain drops. It seems impossible to even imagine it raining in that form. The comparison of the rain and animals resembles how hard the rain is coming down.
Analogy is defined as a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based (Dictionary.com, 2013). An example of this term would be “the analogy between the heart and a pump”. Naturally, a heart beats on is own and when the heart stops no more blood circulates to the heard. A pump circulates a flow, as well, and will continue to until the circulation is interrupted. Both items serve the same purpose, as far as circulation, even though they are two different objects.
Metaphor is defined as a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance