Figurative Language

Figurative Language

Introduction

Figurative Language is the utilization of words that rise above their usual meaning (Glucksberg, 2001). It demands the reader or listener to use their imagination to understand the meaning of the author or the speaker. The delicacy of the English language is not strange to anyone. What can be said plainly can also be changed straightforwardly into a brilliant flow of words that puts in so much thoughtfulness to what has been said (Glucksberg, 2001). And this is what figurative language actually is. It is the ability to unnoticeably describe the literal.

Discussion

The ten most frequently used techniques of figurative language are: Idiom

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is not knowable from the normal meanings of the words that compose it (French & Wettstein, 2001). Idioms do not offer “like” attributes to other things like in other types of figurative language. It is important to know the context of the sentence in order to comprehend the idiom.

Examples

“Hold your horses.”

“It's raining cats and dogs.”

Analogy

An analogy is a comparison or a likeness between two things that hold some characteristics that are similar (Katz, 1998) and others which are dissimilar.

Examples

A Volkswagen and a Model T Ford are both cars, made up of four wheels, and use gasoline to run on; thus comparing or matching them up would be an instance of analogy.

Metaphor

A metaphor proposes someone or something actually turns out to be or is something else. Examples

“The kids were angry hornets sooner than eating lunch.” Or

“Mom is a witch when she's mad.”

Metaphors make use of more precise words such as was, were or is, are to paint a horrific image of Mom actually being a witch, and the hungry kids being angry hornets sooner than getting some food to eat! Thus, there is no “as” or ...