Literal and figurative language

Literal and figurative language is a distinction in traditional systems for analyzing language. Literal language refers to words that do not deviate from their defined meaning. Figurative language refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter the usual meanings of the component words. Figurative language may involve analogy to similar concepts or other contexts, and may involve exaggerations. These alterations result in figures of speech.

For example, the sentence "The ground is thirsty" is partly figurative: "Ground" has a literal meaning, the ground is alive and therefore it needs to drink and it feels thirst. Readers immediately reject a literal interpretation and confidently interpret the words to mean "The ground is dry," an analogy to the condition that would trigger thirst in an animal. However, the statement "When I first saw her, my soul began to quiver" is harder to interpret. It could describe infatuation, panic, or something else entirely. The context a person requires to interpret this statement is familiarity with the speaker's feelings. Lacking this context, a person can give the figurative words a provisional set of meanings, but cannot correctly interpret the figurative utterance until acquiring more information about it.

Figurative language departs from literal meaning to achieve a special effect or meaning. Techniques for doing so are listed in the article on Figures of speech.This can be found in many books and paragraphs. It is good to include both of these in stories and essays.

Specific examples

Simile

A figure of speech in which one thing is explicitly compared to another using "like" or "as", as in “she is like a rose.” Compare metaphor.

Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: image, likeness, comparison, noun use of neuter of similis similar.

Example: Suzie is as quiet as a mouse and as tall as a giraffe.

Metaphor

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, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile def. 1 .

Origin: 1525–35; < Latin metaphora < Greek metaphorá a transfer, akin to metaphérein to transfer. See meta-, -phore

Example: She was a hippo compared to her aunt.

Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.

Origin: 1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek onomatopoiía making of words = onomato- (combining form of ónoma name) + poi- (stem of poieîn to make; see poet) + -ia -ia

Example: “Bark! Bark!” went the dog as he chased the car that vroomed past.

Personification

The attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure.

Origin: 1745–55; personi(fy) + -fication

Example: The sun opened its sleepy eyes and smiled down on the Earth as a new day began.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which a pair of opposite or contradictory terms are used together for emphasis.

Origin: < post-classical Latin oxymoronfigure of speech in which a pair of opposed or markedly contradictory terms are placed in conjunction for emphasis (5th cent.; also oxymorum) < ancient Greek ὀξυ-oxy- comb. form1+ μωρόςdull, stupid, foolish (see moron n.2).

Examples: Organized chaos, Same difference

Paradox

A statement or proposition which is self-contradictory, unreasonable, or illogical.

Origin: < Middle French, French paradoxe(1495 as noun; 1372–4 in plural paradoxesas the title of a work by Cicero; paradoxon(noun) philosophical paradox in post-classical Latin also a figure of speech < ancient Greek παράδοξον, especially in plural παράδοξαStoical paradoxes, use as noun of neuter singular of παράδοξος(adjective) contrary to received opinion or expectation < παρα-para- prefix1+ δόξαopinion (see doxology n.), after ancient Greek παρὰ δόξανcontrary to expectation.

Example: This statement is a lie.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech which uses an extravagant or exaggerated statement to express strong feelings.

Origin: < Greek ὑπερβολήexcess (compare hyperbola n.), exaggeration; the latter sense is first found in Isocrates and Aristotle. Compare French hyperbole(earlier yperbole).

Example: They had been walking so long that John thought he might drink the entire lake when they came upon it.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor that is continued over multiple sentences.

Example: Suz m,.ie is a beautiful young flowering girl. Her cheeks are flush with the spring of life. She has the fragrance of youth about her.

Allusion

Reference to a famous character or event.

Example: Like Hercules, he is so strong.

Idiom

Is an expression consisting of a combination of words that have a figurative meaning.

Example: The following sentence contains an idiom.

You should keep your eye out for him. To keep an eye out for someone means to watch out for it.

Pun

Is an expression which suggests multiple meanings, by exploiting different meanings of words, intended for a humorous or rhetorical effect.

Example: I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

"Then it hit me." has two different meanings:

The ball hit the person.

The person figured out why the ball was getting bigger.

See also

• Biblical literalism
• Figures of speech
• Imagery
• Linguistics
• Philosophy of language
• Rhetoric
• Semantics
• Semiotics
• Trope

External links

• The Word We Love To Hate. Literally. from Slate Magazine
• Figures of Speech from Silva Rhetoricae
• [1] Figurative Language Rap