Figurative and Literal Meanings of Phrases - Research Paper Example

Figurative and Literal Meanings of Phrases Figurative and literal are two major distinctions in the traditional systems that are used for the analysis of the language. Literal refers to the factual or straightforward meaning of the fact. This is what someone exactly means to say whereas the figurative refers to the imaginative form of the words. The figurative language does not simply convey the fact but delivers the idea based on imagination. The figurative language is often used to add the essence of interest, glare and depth within the language though the actual meanings of the words are determined by their literal meanings (Montgomery & Durant, 2006). The figurative and literal are the two different interpretations of the language. The figurative adds depth and intensity to the expressions whereas the literal language straightforwardly puts forwards the words in front of the listeners and the readers without provoking their imagination (Evans & Green, 2006). The literal language is clear in context because it tells exactly what is meant by the writer or speaker. Figurative language also conveys the same message as intended by the speaker, but the figures of speech broaden the imagination of the listeners, allowing them to go beyond the boundaries of words and feel the intensity and depth of the words. There are different figures of speech that are commonly used to construct the figurative meanings of the language, such as metaphor, irony, synecdoche and metonymy. These figures of speech are commonly used in phrases to present different figurative meanings of the language and present the literal meanings of the language in a very interesting and colorful way. For instance, the phrase 1 compares the life with a game without using the words like or as. In this type of figurative language the comparison has been made between the two things to show the similarities between them. The ups and downs of life and the unexpected and unpredictable outcomes have been compared with that of a game. The use of metaphor adds depth of the expression rather simply by putting that one has to face many fluctuations in life; it is said beautifully that life is a game and these words explain all that could not be explained using simple words and language. Simply the phrase 2 tells about the power of the words and their impact. It does not literally means that the words of the men have power to kill someone, but it is the figurative representation of the fact that words reach the listeners and readers in no time and they could have same strong effects upon them as a bullet can. Phrase 3 compares America with a melting pot. Literary it means that America is a place where people of all styles and cultures usually live. It doesn’t refer to something used for mixing and melting the metal, but the figurative language has allowed understanding the way people use to blend with each other while living in the American society. Phrase 4 is another interesting example of metaphor in which a man's weaknesses have been denoted through the straws. The figurative language talks about a man made up of straw or wearing something made of straw, but literally it is meant to refer to his weakness to do anything or to stand long. The figurative meanings are also expressed through the use of simile. The simile is the comparison of two things using the words “like” and “as.” For instance, phrase 5 uses simile and compares the walk of a person with that of a duck. Literally it means that the person usually waddles while walking, but the figurative expressions allow imagining the awkward style of walking of a person. Phrase 6 compares the fighting style with that of cats and dogs to show that the people described in the phrase were fighting very badly. The phrase 7 denotes the inability of a person to see properly for which he has been compared with the bad. In literal language it could be said that the person could not see anything, but the simile has been used to allow the listeners to imagine the incapability of a person to see things. Similarly, phrase 8 does not literally mean that something or someone exactly looks like a coal, but it meant to refer to the intense black color of something or someone. The use of simile has added depth to the meanings and comparing the characteristic with another thing has broadened the imagination to understand the literal meanings of the speaker. The figurative meanings are also commonly conveyed through the use of irony. In this figure of speech the opposite words are used to explain the meanings or intensity of certain things. For example, phrase 9 allows understanding that a thing is extremely right though the word “soft” has been used here, but the use of irony explains that the thing is rough enough that it feels like concrete. Similarly, phrase 10 refers to the intense pain of the root canal whereas the phrase 11 refers to the shabby personality of someone by matching it with a soap dish. The irony used in phrase 12 talks about the un-straightness of a thing, but it has been called straight to further affirm that it is as bending and changing like a zigzag. The use of metonymy is also common in the figurative language in which a word is used to represent a more complex entity. Downing Street has been used in phrase 13 to denote the ruling elite of England. The figurative language in this phrase allows the people to understand that there is talk about the government of England, but any designated person has not been pointed out directly in the phrase that exemplifies the use of metonymy. Likewise, in phrase 14, Hollywood has been used to represent the entire film industry of the United States. The single term is used to replace the entire and complex entity. In another figure of speech – synecdoche, only a part is used to describe the whole. Phrases 15 and 16 are meant to represent people, but here the use of synecdoche has allowed using the words “hands” and “eyes” instead of people in the phrases. This is an interesting figure of speech where only a part of the whole is used, but still it conveys the complete meanings and represents the whole in a perfect manner. When saying all eyes of me, it is clear that the person is referring to the situation when everyone was looking at him. Similarly, all hands on deck also clearly tells that all men are at the deck. The literal and figurative meanings of the words described above allow understanding the difference and relation between the figurative and literal meanings of the phrase. It is unveiled that the literal language straightforwardly puts words in front of the receiver and does not encourage their imagination to illustrate the situation going beyond the spoken words. However, the figurative language opens the doors of imagination and lets people test their illustrative capabilities to interpret the meanings of the spoken words. The figurative and literal meanings are different with each other yet they are closely connected because the figurative language is basically meant to present the literal meanings of the words in a interesting and vivid manner allowing the readers or listeners to experience the same feelings, emotions and experiences that the speaker or writer wants to convey to them. The figurative language is based upon the literal meanings; however, the style of presentation of fact is different in the figurative language that often makes it a thought-provoking style of language. References Siefring, J. (2005). The Oxford dictionary of idioms (Oxford paperback reference). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Montgomery, M., & Durant, A. (2006). Ways of reading: Advanced reading skills for students of English literature. NY: Taylor & Francis. Evans, V., & Green, M. (2006). Cognitive linguistics: An introduction. London: Routledge. Barber, A., & Stainton, R. (2009). Concise encyclopedia of philosophy of language and linguistics. London: Elsevier. Giora, R. (2003). On our mind: Salience, context, and figurative language. Oxford: Oxford University Press. List of Phrases 1. Life is a game 2. Men’s words are bullet 3. America is a melting pot 4. Man of straw 5. Walk like a duck 6. Fighting like cats and dogs 7. As blind as bat 8. As black as coal 9. As soft as concrete 10. As pleasant as root canal 11. As smart as a soup dish 12. As straight as zigzag 13. Downing street passed the bill 14. Holly wood rocks 15. All hands on deck 16. All eyes on me Read More